Indie retailers across Scotland are demanding urgent government and police intervention to tackle the ongoing surge in shoplifting cases.
Recorded incidents of shop theft in Scotland soared 17% to 40,554 offences for the year ending June 2025, according to new statistics from the Scottish Government released this week.
Since 2021, cases have more than doubled from 21,136 to 47,381, marking a 124% increase.
The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) claimed the “actual numbers are much higher”. It said many incidents go unreported due to the level of response from the police and failure by the courts to take tougher action against offenders.
In response, it has called on politicians, police and the courts to take retail crime seriously and ensure indie retailers receive the protection they urgently need.
“These figures are shocking but sadly not surprising to our members, who see stock vanish from their shelves on a daily basis,” said Hetal Patel, national president of the Fed.
“Shop theft is not a victimless crime, it pushes up prices for honest customers, undermines small businesses, and places staff in danger. A 124% rise over just four years threatens the very survival of many independent shops, and it’s no wonder so many are closing.
“We urge all political parties aiming for power after the Scottish elections in May to consider expanding and continuing the promising one-year Police Scotland scheme to combat retail crime.”
Meanwhile, the Scottish Grocers’ Federation has urged long-term support for Police Scotland to tackle retail crime after the latest figures show a “deluge of shop theft” devastating local businesses and risking the safety of retail workers, it said.
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