18 September 2023 , 21:21
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Over a third of UK shoppers have stolen a more expensive item than the one they claimed to have scanned from a supermarket self-checkout this year.
A new poll found 38% have 'uplifted' goods, with 71% saying the cost-of-living crisis and rising food costs were the reason they did this. Uplifting usually takes the form of putting through a more expensive product such as a bottle of wine or a jar of coffee that has the same weight as the cheaper item purported to be being scanned.
Out of those who admitted to it, 41% said they were aware of what the minimum value of stolen items would be before the police attended and tried to keep the costs below this to avoid being arrested.
The average price of the good or goods being stolen was £41 - amounting to almost £820million, said CouponBirds, the firm that compiled the research. A Conservative law change in 2014 downgraded the theft of goods worth less than £200 to a minor offence, which can carry up to a maximum of six months in prison but usually is punished by a £70 postal fine.
Fresh loose fruit and vegetables were the most frequent items shoplifted in this way, with two-thirds of respondents who said they had uplifted supermarket goods admitting to doing this. Baby essentials such as formula were next, at 51%, followed by hygiene products at 47%.
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Natalie Warb, financial expert at uk.couponbirds.com, said her firm's research underscored the dire straits many are facing due to the ongoing cost of living - but discouraged those struggling from stealing at self-checkouts.
Ms Warb added: "A significant number of individuals admit to resorting to theft for essential items they can't afford, highlighting a pressing societal and economic challenge that demands more substantial intervention.
"With stolen goods nearing half a billion pounds, it's imperative to address this issue on a larger scale. It's important to acknowledge that 'uplifting' may go by a different name, but it remains theft or shoplifting and should be unequivocally discouraged.
"If you're facing hardship, remember that stealing is never the solution. Local resources like food banks, shelters and vouchers are available to provide support during these tough times."
The news comes as The Mirror has launched our new campaign Clamp Down on Shoplifting. One of our three demands is to address the underlying causes of shoplifting, by tackling the cost of living crisis and providing more support for people living with addiction and poor mental health.
HM Chief Inspector of constabulary Andy Cooke has said police officers should use "discretion" when deciding whether to prosecute shoplifters amid high grocery price inflation, which currently stands at 12.2% according to analysts Kantar.
There has been a rising spate of verbal and physical attacks on shopkeepers and retail staff in recent months as several supermarket and department store bosses have reported an 'epidemic' in shoplifting.
The British Retail Consortium, which represents firms, has called for a law to be brought in that makes assaulting a retail worker a specific offence.