Survey reveals significant increase in convenience store theft
A survey conducted by the Association of Convenience Stores has revealed a significant increase in staff theft and robberies in convenience stores over the past year.
The 2011 ACS Crime Survey found that robberies increased by 102% from 207 to 419 in the 3112 stores responding to the survey. However, the average cost per incident fell from £2,880 to £1,252.
The total cost of staff theft increased by 143%, while the cost per incident rose by 90%.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The level of crime being experienced by convenience retailers continues to rise, but considerable investment in crime prevention measures has led to a decline in the number of till snatches and the value of stock lost in robberies. The message to criminals is clear: targeting convenience stores is becoming less profitable.”
The research found that till snatches had fallen to their lowest level since the ACS crime survey began in 2008.
Verbal abuse was found to be the least likely crime to be reported to the police, followed closely by shop theft. Lowman added: “We must ensure that these offences are punished and not just swept under the rug.”
