09/10/2026
Officers in the city have recovered a large quantity of stolen meat today. This was from members of the public who had purchased the meat from “unknown” persons who had approached them in the street offering it for sale.
Please think if you are considering purchasing cheap meat or other items as there is a high chance it is stolen. 85% of stores are reporting meat to be the most stolen item. People who buy meat or other items suspected to be stolen are committing a criminal offence under Section 22 of the Theft Act 1968. The offence occurs when someone receives, retains, or disposes of goods that they know, or ought to know, have been stolen. There are other, less obvious factors.
The retail industry is reporting an increase in the frequency and severity of violence and abuse experienced by retail workers and there were around 590,000 incidents of violence and abuse in 2024-25.
Additionally, Mitie said 10% of their 10,000 security guards were injured in the line of duty in 2024. It is not just big corporations paying the price. It can have a lasting and significant impact on retail and security workers.
Shoplifting can easily turn into a robbery.
Shoplifting adds £133 to the cost of an average UK household's shopping bill each year, according to the Centre for Retail Research. Your cheap items often come with a human cost that cant be measured.
