Recent data analysed by London Criminal Solicitors Lawtons reveals UK shoplifting offences rose 20% from 2024 to 2025, as mail theft and business property robberies skyrocket.
The findings follow a recent rise in shoplifting offences in pharmacies, with around nine in 10 pharmacies reporting an increase in shoplifting and aggression towards staff in the past year.
October 2024 saw the most shoplifting offences, with 48,091 recorded by police. In total, 571,650 shoplifting offences were recorded from March 2024 to March 2025, reaching their highest point since current police recording practices began in 2003.
From March 2024 to 2025, theft of mail – or ‘porch piracy’ – also skyrocketed by 48%, with 8,830 offences recorded. December 2024 saw 1,265 offences alone, making up 14% of offences – correlating with Christmas deliveries.
Separately, business property robberies were seen to rise by 50% from March 2024 to March 2025, with a total of 15,520 offences.
Business properties are being increasingly targeted, with high-value items like alcohol, tobacco, and electronics marked as lucrative, easily resold goods.
The Government is currently progressing The Crime and Policing Bill, which will repeal the summary offence of ‘low-value’ shoplifting for stolen goods under £200. If the bill passes into law, all shoplifting crimes will be tried as general theft, irrespective of the value of goods taken – carrying a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment. Currently, the maximum custodial sentence is up to 6 months’ imprisonment.
Andy Hobdell, Criminal Solicitor at Lawtons Solicitors, said, “With new legislation targeting shoplifting offenders in the pipeline, shoplifters can expect tougher sentences if found guilty, in an attempt to deter would-be offenders from engaging in the crime.
“Currently, there is a perception among some retailers that police forces aren’t doing enough to crack down on shoplifting, particularly if the stolen goods amount to under £200 in value. These ‘low-value’ crimes are limited to prosecution in magistrates’ courts, which have lower sentencing powers than Crown Courts.
With regards to the rise in business property robberies, these cases differ from theft in that robbery involves the use or threat of force to take property directly from a person, whereas theft refers to the unlawful taking of someone’s property without their permission, but without any physical confrontation. The continued rise in robbery offences across England and Wales, and in London specifically, is deeply concerning, but people must remain aware of their surroundings and take steps to minimise their risk of being targeted.
“Robbery is an extremely serious offence under UK law, tried in the Crown Court, and can carry a prison sentence of up to life imprisonment depending on the severity. Sentences of up to 18 years are common in cases involving violence or weapons.”
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