The cost of retail crime per store in Scotland increased by 62% to £19,657 in 2024.
The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) Crime Report 2025, released today, said the total financial impact of crime including theft and vandalism amounted to £102.7m across the Scottish convenience sector last year.
Out of 755 respondents, 99.8% said shoplifting has increased in the past year, with 99.5% experiencing shoplifting daily.
Refusing a sale or asking for proof of age continue to be the main triggers for abuse and threatening behaviour towards staff in-store, said the SGF.
Almost every respondent (98.8%) experiences weekly incidents of abuse when refusing a sale or requesting identification.
Violence against staff has risen in the past year, according to 83.5% of respondents, while 99.6% reported that violent incidents happen at least once a month.
More than 75% said incidents involving weapons such as a knife, club or firearm occur at least once a month.
The report found that retail crime incidents are taking a toll on workers, with over two thirds of businesses having at least one member staff member who has experience mental health & wellbeing issues.
Nearly half of respondents (48.2%) would unlikely or very unlikely report shoplifting incidents to the police, the report found.
Meanwhile, 96% said police response times to shoplifting incidents are either unsatisfactory or significantly delayed to the degree that it “undermines the effectiveness of reporting the crime,” said SGF.
Retail crime remains one of the most significant challenges facing the convenience sector in Scotland today, said Dr Pete Cheema OBE, SGF chief executive.
“The implications of retail crime are far reaching, affecting the store owner, their staff, and the communities they serve. Retailers and staff are regularly subject to abuse and aggression at work,” he commented.
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