Retail theft across England and Wales has spiralled, with more than 800 shoplifting cases each day closed without any suspect being identified, according to police figures.
The data revealed that unsolved store thefts have surged by 65 per cent compared to 2019/20, reaching nearly 295,600 offences in the current year alone.
This translates to roughly one theft going unpunished every minute during typical trading hours.
Despite reported thefts climbing to a record 529,994 in the year to June, representing a 13 per cent annual rise, fewer than one in five cases resulted in charges.
The data revealed that unsolved store thefts have surged by 65 per cent compared to 2019/20
| GETTYTRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
The charge rate stands at just 19.6 per cent.
In response to the crisis, the Liberal Democrats have proposed a nationwide CCTV installation programme for corner shops, financed through a combination of Government grants and loans.
The party, which commissioned the police data analysis, has suggested allocating £6,500 per shop, divided equally between grant funding and loans.
Should all 18,500 independent retailers registered with the National Association of Convenience Stores take up the full grant, the scheme would cost an estimated £60million.
The Liberal Democrats have proposed a nationwide CCTV installation programme for corner shops
|GETTY
Sarah Olney, the party's business spokesman, said: "The shoplifting epidemic is a profound threat to our local businesses, our high streets and our economy.
"With over 800 offences going unpunished every single day, businesses are haemorrhaging money, driving up costs for consumers and even forcing businesses to shut their doors for good."
The current charge rate marks a modest improvement from the previous year's 17.9 per cent, yet remains dramatically lower than a decade ago when police identified suspects in more than a third of cases.
In 2014/15, the charge rate stood at 36.3 per cent.
BRITAIN'S CRIMEWAVE - READ THE LATEST:
Sir Mark Rowley has urged retailers to do more to help police tackle soaring rates of shoplifting across Britain | GETTYPolice forces introduced a new crime-fighting strategy in 2023, pledging to attend incidents involving violence against staff, situations where security guards had detained offenders, or cases requiring officers to gather evidence.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley recently urged retailers to do more to help police tackle soaring rates of shoplifting across Britain.
He called on retailers to assist investigations by providing CCTV footage and allowing staff time to give statements and court evidence.
The Liberal Democrats have warned that the festive period will be particularly difficult for retail workers facing the threat of abuse or violence from thieves.
Josh Reynolds, the party's trade spokesman and former retail worker, said: "This Christmas, thousands of dedicated shop staff will be left in fear, dreading their shifts as a result of facing potential abuse or even violence from thieves.
"As a result of so many shoplifting cases being left unsolved, staff are being forced to intervene, even putting themselves in danger to protect their businesses.
"So many small businesses put their blood, sweat and tears into their products, only to have them taken away by this careless crime."
Earlier this year, the British Retail Consortium revealed that there were over 20 million incidents of shoplifting in the UK in 2024, costing retailers £2.2billion.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
More From GB News