Shop staff facing shoplifting epidemic this Christmas as record 810 offences going unsolved a day

EMBARGO: 2230 Sunday 21st December 2025

• Unsolved shoplifting offences have soared by 65% compared to five years ago, new research reveals
• Lib Dem MP and former retail worker Josh Reynolds warns shop owners face being put in danger because they feel the need to confront thieves
• Liberal Democrats call for grants for shops to install CCTV and make high streets safer

The Liberal Democrats have warned shop staff are being left in fear this Christmas by a shoplifting epidemic as data reveals a record 810 shoplifting offences a day have gone unsolved.

The analysis from the House of Commons Library shows that in the year 2024-25, 295,589 shoplifting offence cases were closed without a suspect being identified, equivalent to an average of 810 cases a day. This is a staggering 65% rise from the 178,906 shoplifting offences that went unsolved in 2019-20.

This year, fewer than one in five (19%) shoplifting cases led to a suspect being charged or summoned compared to over half of cases (55%) which were closed without a suspect being identified.

The Liberal Democrats have warned that as so many offences are left unpunished, staff have been left in fear and “even risk putting themselves in danger” by attempting to deal with the thieves themselves.

The party is calling for a mass CCTV rollout, offering small independent convenience stores grants and loans up to £6,500 to install modern CCTV in order to prevent shoplifting and make our high streets safer. The party added that the scheme could save money for police services by helping prevent shoplifting and allowing forces to conclude investigations quicker thanks to better CCTV footage.

Liberal Democrat Business Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said:

“The shoplifting epidemic is a profound threat to our local businesses, our high streets and our economy.

“With over 800 offences going unpunished every single day, businesses are haemorrhaging money, driving up costs for consumers and even forcing businesses to shut their doors for good.

“That’s why we’re calling for a mass CCTV rollout, to give the businesses the tools they need to protect themselves and tackle this crime once and for all.”

Former retail worker and Trade Spokesperson Josh Reynolds MP added:

“This Christmas, thousands of dedicated shop staff will be left in fear, dreading their shifts as a result of facing potential abuse or even violence from thieves.

“As a result of so many shoplifting cases being left unsolved, staff are being forced to intervene, even putting themselves in danger to protect their businesses.

“So many small businesses put their blood, sweat and tears into their products, only to have them taken away by this careless crime. The Government must do everything in their power to protect them and heed our calls for a mass CCTV rollout.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

House of Commons analysis can be found here:

Original source of data can be found here.

CCTV rollout scheme - further information:

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a scheme offering small independent convenience stores grants & loans up to £6,500 in total to install new, modern CCTV - to prevent shoplifting, make high streets safer and cut business costs.

Small shops need approximately £6,500 for adequate modern CCTV, according to the Federation of Independent Retailers. [Source]

According to the Association of Convenience Stores  there are around 18,500 unaffiliated independent convenience stores across the UK (37% of the roughly 50,000 convenience stores in total). [Association of Convenience Stores, 2025]

The scheme would create a funding pot making available grants up to £3,250 for every independent convenience store, covering half the cost of new CCTV. The Govt should work with high street lenders to provide affordable loans covering the other half, for those who need more support.

The scheme would cost up to £60m in total, if all 18,500 independent convenience stores were to claim the full £3,250 grant. The true cost would likely be significantly lower as many will already have modern CCTV in place or may not need the full £3,250.

These figures do not include likely savings for police services, resulting from helping to prevent shoplifting and allowing forces to conclude investigations quicker thanks to better CCTV footage.