UK shoppers have been alerted to an urgent warning concerning a surge in "storming" at supermarkets. Security experts are raising the alarm about an increase in bold 'storming' incidents at supermarkets, which is anticipated to escalate during the summer.
Kingdom Security, who provide assistance to supermarkets and shopping centres nationwide in combating theft and related crimes, anticipate a spike in audacious shoplifting events this summer. The firm collaborates with Marks & Spencer and Morrisons, among other retailers.
Shoplifting has reached unprecedented levels this year, with the highest figures ever recorded in England and Wales. Last year saw 516,971 offences according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), but retailers argue that the actual scale of the issue is significantly underreported.
John Nussbaum, Director of Service – Retail at Kingdom Security, attributes the increase partly to organised criminals who are boldly stealing to order across the nation, reports Birmingham Live. "We are dealing with people stealing out of necessity, if they can't afford food, and they usually only take what they need, but we are also seeing a worrying rise in 'storming' from more professional, and brazen, shoplifters."
The term 'storming' is being used to describe the increasingly audacious and violent form of shoplifting that's spreading across the nation, involving groups of two or more individuals who burst into stores to snatch whatever they can. Given that these crimes involve multiple culprits, the incidents tend to be more violent, unpredictable, and aggressive, often leaving shop workers and customers feeling threatened.
"Shoplifting is becoming more and more brazen, which is a concern for the safety of shop staff, shoppers and security staff," John comments. "If people are willing to steal without any pretence, what else are they willing to do?".
"Shoplifting is no longer a victimless crime – if it ever was. The shoplifters storming into supermarkets, sweeping spirits off the shelves, and emptying entire aisles of laundry detergent, are also threatening staff with knives, verbally abusing people and overall acting very aggressively.
"Security staff are there to protect shop workers and customers, as well as recover stolen items, but there is a good chance that many perpetrators are carrying knives, and in that case the safety of everyone needs to come first.
"Luckily, security guarding and advanced technology means we can identify repeat offenders and work to keep the public safe and continue to deter would-be shoplifters," John adds.
"We try to ask people who are caught stealing why they are stealing, and educate them on the impact on supermarkets, shop workers, security and themselves. But with storming, it is harder to communicate with people, as they are often aggressive to staff."
