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Retail crime is not just a business concern. It’s a national issue that impacts staff, customers and communities. Every day, store teams face shoplifting, threats, abuse and the growing use of weapons. Convictions remain rare and retailers are left to pick up the pieces, financially and emotionally.
At DeterTech, we partner with retailers to take proactive steps to protect their people, stock and stores. We provide the tools, intelligence and support to help deter and detect. Our work is grounded in prevention, collaboration and the belief that no one should feel unsafe at work.
In this guide, we highlight the alarming retail crime statistics to help retailers understand the scale of the challenge so they can take practical action. From forensic marking and remote monitoring to staff awareness and signage, the actions we outline here are proven to reduce crime and deter offenders.
Through SmartWater, high-value items – and increasingly offenders – are marked and traceable, making it harder for thieves to act without consequence. And because each formula is unique and police-supported, it turns everyday items into evidence. We’ve seen reductions in stock loss, improvements in staff confidence and a stronger message sent to would-be offenders.
With fewer hands and tighter budgets, the pressure to protect people, products and places has never been greater. That’s why it is so important to invest in solutions that are proven, practical and easy to implement.
Small changes can have a significant impact, whether it’s giving staff the confidence to report suspicious behaviour or making your store visibly more secure. At DeterTech, we support that journey with insights, innovation and a shared commitment to keeping retail environments safe.
This insight paper is for anyone involved in keeping retail environments secure, from store managers and security teams to those working behind the scenes. Whether you are responsible for one location or many, the experiences and practical steps shared are designed to help you protect your people, your stock and your space from crime.
Together, we can create a retail landscape where crime doesn’t pay and safety comes first
Retail Crime in Numbers
Retail crime continues to escalate, posing a significant threat to businesses, staff, and communities. Here’s a snapshot of the impact:
429,914
Shop theft offences
Recorded by police in the year ending September 2024
Source: Gov UK Crime and Policing Bill
2,000+
Incidents of violence or abuse per day
Against retail workers – up from 1,300 the previous year
Source: BRC Crime Survey Report 2025
67%
Of retailers believe the cost of living crisis has led to an increase in theft
Source: ACS Crime Report 2024
100%
Conviction rate in contested court cases using SmartWater
Source: DeterTech
25,000+
Incidents involving a weapon
Up 180% year-on-year
Source: BRC Crime Survey Report 2025
£4.2 billion
Total cost of retail crime, including prevention
Source: BRC Crime Survey Report 2025
10%
Of violent or abusive incidents resulted in police attendance
Only 2% led to a conviction
Source: BRC Crime Survey Report 2025
Source: BRC Crime Survey Report 2025
The table below shows the top 10 hotspots for shoplifting offences in the UK during 2023.
| No. | Police Force | Shoplifting Offences per 10,000 People |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland | 140 |
| 2 | Nottinghamshire | 130 |
| 3 | South Yorkshire | 110.5 |
| 4 | Northumbria & Durham Constabulary | 110 |
| 5 | West Yorkshire & Sussex | 100 |
| 6 | Humberside | 96 |
| 7 | South Wales | 95 |
| 8 | Avon & Somerset | 85 |
| 9 | Kent | 83 |
| 10 | West Mercia | 82 |
Recommendations for Retail Businesses.
Make Security Signage Work for Your Store
Display bold signage around your shop to highlight visible security measures. Clear warnings deter offenders, reduce crime attempts and show your store is a protected and monitored environment.
Keep Retail CCTV Fully Covered
Test cameras regularly to ensure they are working, recording and covering key retail areas like entrances, tills and high-risk displays. Report faults immediately to maintain strong coverage.
Secure Your Shop Outside Opening Hours
Use remote monitoring to protect shops after closing time. Surveillance helps detect threats early, supports fast escalation and ensures your store remains safe even when no one is on site.
Fast Response to Retail Crime
When intruders strike, every second matters. DeterTech’s Alarm Receiving Centre verifies and escalates confirmed incidents within 47 seconds to stop criminal activity and limit loss or damage.
Forensically Mark Stock and Store Assets
Apply SmartWater forensic marking to valuable goods, equipment and assets. Registered items are easier to trace and recover and proven to support convictions if stolen items are later recovered.
Get Store Staff and Locals on Alert
Encourage your team and community to report suspicious behaviour. They should not intervene directly but observe and share details with security teams or police to support crime prevention.
Always Log Theft and Store Incidents
Report all thefts or suspicious activity to police and DeterTech Crime Intelligence. It supports offender tracking, identifies repeat targeting and strengthens protection across your retail network.
Protect Retail Teams from Risk
Do not let staff engage directly with offenders. With threats and violence rising in retail, it’s safer to rely on trained guards, deterrent technologies and fast-responding security teams.
Case Studies & Testimonials:
How to Deter & Detect
Loss Prevention
- 20% reduction in stock loss
- 10% increase in sales
Homebase reduces stock loss with SmartWater
Homebase, one of the UK’s leading home and garden retailers, partnered with DeterTech to roll out forensic marking in its stores nationwide.
SmartWater, a traceable liquid and forensic asset marking solution, is applied to high-value items such as power tools to deter theft, support recovery and secure a conviction. Each unique formula is invisible to the naked eye but glows under UV light, linking stolen items back to their source.
After a successful trial in stores experiencing high levels of stock loss, the use of SmartWater is now a key part of Homebase’s wider loss prevention strategy.
Intruder Detection
- 24/7 live monitoring
- 47-second average response time
Helping the Co-op secure its distribution centre
The Co-op approached DeterTech to solve a unique security challenge at their Thurrock distribution centre, where a shared boundary with a railway line made traditional solutions unworkable.
Following a site visit, DeterTech recommended deploying SmartRecon cameras and sounders on the opposite side of the fence with the agreement of Network Rail. This collaboration benefits both parties by detecting illegal trespassers early and providing the Co-op with advanced warnings.
The system is monitored around the clock by DeterTech’s Alarm Receiving Centre. Since installation, only one intrusion attempt has occurred, with high-quality images captured and shared with police, identifying the suspects as known individuals linked to similar crimes.
“The well-being of our staff and customers is our number one priority. We’re proud to be using cutting-edge solutions to keep them safe at all times. I sleep easier knowing criminals will think twice before targeting us.”
Richie Iwanoff,
Corporate Investigations Team Manager, BT
BT deploys SmartSpray in selected retail stores
About DeterTech.
Embedding crime prevention into every retail space.
DeterTech helps retailers and police stay one step ahead of crime by providing the intelligence, tools and technology needed to predict, deter and detect threats. Our tagging, forensic marking and remote monitoring solutions, combined with data-led insights, work together to prevent incidents before they happen.
By supporting faster responses and smarter decisions, the DeterTech approach to reducing retail crime creates safer retail environments and stronger communities. Every day, we help protect people, places and peace of mind.
