Retail theft still a running problem

Retail theft is still forcing stores to add guards, call police and warn staff, even when the stolen goods are sandwiches or chicken wings. (standard.co.uk) Costa Coffee said it added “additional support” at a small number of branches after security reviews, with reported deployments in London and Manchester. The company said the change was meant to support staff and keep stores “safe and welcoming.” (standard.co.uk) In Brandon, Manitoba, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce said on April 12 that local retailers are under “increasing pressure” from theft. Chamber president Jennifer Ludwig said the group began coordinating a response after an April 7 stakeholder meeting with businesses, law enforcement and government partners. (brandonsun.com) In Lower Makefield Township, Pennsylvania, police said a Trenton man was arrested on April 9 after allegedly taking $68.28 worth of chicken wings from a Wegmans on Vansant Drive. Officers said he fled when employees tried to stop him, then ran from police before he was taken into custody after a short chase. (newportdispatch.com) The pattern in those cases is operational, not dramatic: stores are spending on visible deterrence, documenting incidents and trying to reassure workers at the point of sale. Costa’s security move was framed around staff support, and Brandon’s chamber described theft as a community issue rather than only a store-level loss. (standard.co.uk) (brandonsun.com) The wider numbers remain high in Britain. The British Retail Consortium said customer theft cost retailers a record £2.2 billion in the year covered by its 2026 crime report, and the Office for National Statistics said police recorded shoplifting in England and Wales hit its highest level on record in the year ending September 2025. (brc.org.uk) (ons.gov.uk) Brandon has already tried targeted enforcement. Global News reported on April 3, 2025 that Brandon police had made more than 50 arrests and recovered about $10,000 in property during a retail-theft crackdown, even as business owners said the problem was still spreading beyond Winnipeg. (globalnews.ca) Retailers are also changing store layouts and staffing in response. The Telegraph reported Costa placed guards at 10 frequently targeted cafes, while saying the company has about 2,700 branches in the United Kingdom. (telegraph.co.uk) For workers and store managers, that means theft is being treated less like occasional shrink and more like a routine safety and staffing problem. The latest local reports show the response now starts at the door, with guards, incident logs and faster calls for backup. (brandonsun.com) (standard.co.uk)