Shoplifting in Scotland rises 20% to 1000 incidents weekly

Shoplifting in Scotland has risen by 20% to more than 1,000 incidents a week, according to new figures from the Scottish Government. Police in Scotland recorded 56,920 shoplifting crimes during the 12-month period ending in June 2026, compared with 47,381 a year earlier.

Shoplifting was a major contributor to a broader increase in crimes of dishonesty across the nation. Police recorded 123,906 crimes of dishonesty in the year ending June 2026, up 10% from 112,421 in the previous year and 27% from 97,207 in the year ending June 2022.

Shoplifting increased by 9,539 crimes year on year, accounting for around 83% of the 11,485 increase in recorded crimes of dishonesty. Overall, Police Scotland recorded 323,531 crimes during the period, 7% more than a year earlier and 13% above the level recorded in the year ending June 2022.

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Ewan MacDonald-Russell, deputy head of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), said: “Thieving from stores has skyrocketed in recent years with over a thousand incidents a week being recorded by police.” He noted that the increase had come despite record spending by retailers on crime prevention.

MacDonald-Russell cautioned that part of the recent increase in recorded shoplifting could reflect changes in reporting and policing. “Some of the increase of late will be as a consequence of the new shoplifting reporting tool and improved response to incidents from the police following the creation last year of Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce,” he said.

The distinction is important because the Scottish Government figures measure crimes recorded by police rather than providing a complete estimate of all shoplifting taking place in Scotland. As the SRC pointed out, retail theft has wider consequences for businesses, employees, and consumers, including increasing abuse and threats directed at store workers.

It’s likely that the rise in shoplifting will continue to put pressure on Scotland’s retailers, and the SRC is calling for greater government support for the Retail Crime Taskforce to expand its reach and target more retail crime hotspots. The taskforce was created to address the growing problem of retail crime, and its efforts may be key in reducing the number of incidents.

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The SRC said retail theft is a key factor behind increasing abuse and threats directed at store workers. The financial cost of retail crime can also put pressure on retailers and consumers and affect the health of high streets. MacDonald-Russell called for greater government support for the Retail Crime Taskforce, saying that enhanced funding would allow the taskforce to extend its reach and target more retail crime hotspots.

According to the SRC, the Scottish Government should provide more support to address the issue of retail crime. The latest figures highlight the continuing pressure on Scotland’s retailers from shoplifting and other forms of retail crime, and the need for a more effective response to these problems.

The number of shoplifting crimes recorded by Police Scotland is a significant concern for retailers and the community. With over 1,000 incidents a week, it’s clear that more needs to be done to address the issue. The SRC’s call for greater government support for the Retail Crime Taskforce is a step in the right direction, but it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to stem the rise in retail crime.