The UK is facing a shoplifting crisis, with national offences rising to their highest level on record. ONS data shows 516,971 shoplifting incidents were recorded in the year to December 2024, a 20% year-on-year increase, with the upward trend continuing into 2025.
Retailers warn theft is now spiralling out of control, costing the industry over £2.2bn and placing growing pressure on high streets as the busy festive season approaches. Against this backdrop of escalating crime, new analysis from security experts Spy Alarms reveals that several of the UK’s biggest areas are bracing for a surge in festive retail crime this December, with Birmingham emerging as the nation’s most affected area.
The data from security company Spy Alarms, comparing recorded shoplifting incidents across the UK, show that Birmingham recorded a staggering 1,080 incidents, placing it firmly at the top of the UK’s seasonal shoplifting hotspots. This is more than eight times the nationwide average for December burglaries (127), highlighting the scale of Christmas-period crime facing retailers.
Rank
Area
Shoplifting Incidents
1
Birmingham
1080
2
Leeds
750
3
Westminster
563
4
Sheffield
458
5
Brighton
422
6
Cardiff
422
7
Nottingham
413
8
Newham
403
9
Bristol
396
10
Southwark
350
Key Findings:
- Leeds (750 incidents) ranks second, signalling growing crime pressures across West Yorkshire.
- Westminster (563 incidents) remains London’s worst-affected borough for retail theft.
- 7 London boroughs feature in the top 20 areas with the highest shoplifting rate
- Major cities including Sheffield (458), Brighton (422), Cardiff (422) and Nottingham (413) also feature heavily
Global Findings: December Shoplifting Part of a Worldwide Rise
The UK’s surge in festive shoplifting mirrors a global spike in retail crime, with new international data showing that shoplifting incidents rise sharply around the world during peak shopping months. Global police-recorded data reveals that October is the world’s worst month for shoplifting, with 44,255 incidents followed by August (43,843) and November (42,223).
Despite a slight dip in December to 35,419 incidents, global retail theft remains significantly elevated during the festive season, making it one of the highest-risk periods worldwide.
