The British Retail Consortium’s (BRC’s) Retail Crime Survey 2011 has painted a worrying picture for UK high street businesses in regard to store security and retail theft.

The survey, published on Monday (16th January 2012) reports that the overall cost of retail crime has risen by up to 31%.

This increase, with a cost of around £1.4 billion, is being largely attributed to an increase in organised criminal enterprises targeting the retail sector.

A notable mention in the report was the apparent rise in the use of weapons and physical violence.

Robberies on the retail industry have increased by 20 per cent, as has the cost-per-incident which now stands at £989.

The total value of goods stolen over 2011 is up £10 million on 2010 to a staggering £147 million.

However, the report also highlights that there have been fewer incidents for many types of crime. It seems that this decrease in other forms of retail theft has been due to increased use of more secure shop fittings.

Many businesses took steps to improve the security of their retail shop fittings in the wake of the August riots.

Stephen Robertson, the Director General of the BRC was quoted in the report as saying: “Retailers have made significant investment to protect their staff, stock and premises from opportunistic crime. The falling number of many types of crime is testament to the sector’s own efforts.”

He continued: “What is left is a core of more serious and organised criminals who are making off with goods in larger quantities and of higher value. These are violent law-breakers who pose a danger to society at large, not solely the retail sector.”

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