63% more shoplifting was recorded in the year to March 2026 than in the year to March 2003

Shoplifting offences recorded by the police, England and Wales, each year to March, 2003 to 2026. Offences.

The figures start in the year to March 2003. Since April 2025, thefts from shops with violence or threats to get away are recorded as robbery

Latest figures

Series	Period	Value
Shoplifting offences	Year to March 2026	507,086

Police recorded crime counts the offences that are reported to the police and that they record. Many thefts from shops are never reported, so changes in these figures can reflect how often shops report thefts and how the police record them, as well as changes in how much shoplifting there is.
Shoplifting is stealing from a shop, stall or other retail premises. A theft in which the offender uses or threatens violence is recorded as robbery instead. In April 2025 the Home Office made clear to police forces that this includes violence or threats against shop staff or security guards to get away. The ONS says more offences have been recorded as robbery of business property since, and some of these may earlier have been recorded as shoplifting.
The National Crime Recording Standard, which set out how all forces should record crimes, began in April 2002, so the figures start with the year to March 2003. Earlier figures are not comparable with them.
The figures cover every police force in England and Wales, including British Transport Police. Earlier years are revised in each release as forces update their records.