People of London: Shoplifting rising across the UK

We ask Londoners why shoplifting is becoming increasingly common

Transcript

00:00I think the number doesn't really surprise me, just like it's noticeable here in the shops how common it is.

00:06I think it's a mixture of the cost of living, but also largely lack of enforcement.

00:11I think as supermarkets like this one here have gone towards having automated checkouts,

00:15there's less staff and I guess probably less resistance to people shoplifting.

00:20The cost of living is a big issue and that will be driving a lot of it.

00:25I think, you know, wages haven't kept pace with inflation and, you know, the more and more those prices go up, the more desperate people become.

00:37Yeah, I think there's a lack of consequences and a lack of enforcement of it is a big, big factor as well.

00:44I think also there's an issue of gangs and wanting to procure products for their, I guess, for funding themselves.

00:53So it might pressurise some people lower down their ranks to go and shoplift for them.