It's like it's no longer a crimé..

Call for action as stores and workers are targeted by thieves who act without fear

-  NATASHA WYNARCZYK, AMY SHARPE and DAVE BURKE

SHOPKEEPERS and retail bosses are demanding urgent action to tackle the epidemic of shoplifting that is sweeping Britain's high streets.

They want police and the courts to do more to protect staff and bring prosecutions after 87% of convenience store staff said thieves had verbally abused them.

Shoplifting is estimated to cost retailers almost £1billion a year.

The British Retail Consortium said there were around eight million incidents in the 12 months to March. Police recorded 339,206 cases, with just 48,218 of these incidents resulting in charges.

Workers say some crooks pull items from shelves in front of them and return to steal more, as they believe they can get away with it.

The Mirror is today joining calls for action with a list of demands to stop the scourge. And we will publish your pictures and CCTV of shoplifting to shame the culprits.

SHAMELESS

While some people believe the cost-of-living crisis and soaring prices is partially behind the rise in shoplifting, retail expert Scott Dixon said it is mainly down to thieves becoming more brazen.

He said: "It is worse than ever. They know the odds are stacked in their favour and are becoming bolder. Shoplifting has effectively been decriminalised.

"More must be done to protect retailers and staff. We need tougher laws backed up by the police and courts.

"Smaller retailers cannot afford to take the hit and are giving up their livelihoods, which has repercussions on our communities. We may also see larger retailers closing stores in key locations."

One Co-op manager told how in recent months his store in South London has been targeted up to seven times a day.