Violence in Convenience Stores Almost Doubles and is Linked to Shoplifting Epidemic

Violence against shopkeepers and their assistants has jumped from 41,000 incidents in 2022 to 76,000 in 2023, according to a survey by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). In the ACS’s 2024 Crime Report they said there had been 5.6 million incidents of shop theft in the past 12 months, a huge jump from the 1.1 million incidents recorded a year ago. The report also reveals corner shop retailers have recorded over 600 incidents of theft an hour over the last year. ACS chief executive James Lowman said, “Retailers are facing an onslaught of crime committed against their businesses on a daily basis, with some losing tens of thousands of pounds per year to theft alone.”...