How shoplifting has surged around the world as consumers return to physical shopping

A post-pandemic return to physical shopping, more self-service tills and high living costs have led to a recent surge in shoplifting in Asia, the US and Europe

Experts say this is down to lenience and a decreasing stigma surrounding theft, driven by groups on Tumblr and other platforms. But shops are fighting back

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A recent shoplifting wave has left retailers like Macy’s, Walmart and more closing branches. But the shops are now fighting back with AI technology and more. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 7:15am, 7 Jun 2023Updated: 10:38am, 7 Jun 2023

Retail crime has rocketed in countries around the globe, where the return of physical shopping, rampant inflation and the trend towards self-service tills is stoking a shoplifting epidemic.

Figures from the UK’s Office of National Statistics showed that shoplifting rose by 22 per cent year-on-year during the year to September 2022. Ten per cent of Americans – over 30 million people – shoplift with some degree of regularity, according to the Shulman Centre, which tracks compulsive theft, spending and hoarding.

In Singapore about 3,200 shoplifting cases were logged in 2022 – 600 more than in 2021. Hong Kong reported 1,207 cases of shoplifting – a rise of 35 per cent – in the first two months of this year.

“Like never before, it’s argued that it’s OK to steal because there is no longer a penalty or social stigma attached to being a thief,” security expert Chris McGoey says.

Anti-shoplifting posters in a Singapore mall. Photo: Shutterstock

Part of this comes down to online discourse. Social media platform Tumblr has an active shoplifting community that uses tags and text speak to share shoplifting tactics.