Nearly 800 shoplifting offences reported to police are going unsolved every day, shocking new data has revealed.
The number of shoplifting investigations closed by police with no suspect identified has increased by 18 per cent.
Some 245,337 were unsolved in 2023/24, with that figure increasing to 289,464 in 2024/25, according to Home Office data.
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That is equivalent to 793 shoplifting cases going unsolved a day.
More than half of investigations into shoplifting by police ended with no suspect being identified last year.
Fewer than one-in-five shoplifting cases reported to the police led to a suspect being charged, despite the force saying it will investigate any crime where there is a viable lead.
The House of Commons Library's research was commissioned by the Liberal Democrats after Thames Valley police chief Matthew Barber said the public should do more to challenge shoplifters rather than solely rely on the police.
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Some 793 shoplifting cases go unsolved a day
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Thames Valley Police force had a conviction rate of only 17 per cent, below the national average.
The Metropolitan Police had the lowest charge rate in the country at just 16 per cent.
It comes as the shoplifting levels hit a record high, with nearly three offences a minute.
Some 530,643 offences were reported to police in the year to March, costing retailers an estimated £1.8billion.
The Lib Dems have called on the Government to scrap the role of police and crime commissioners so that resources can be diverted to dealing with crime.
Lib Dem MP for Maidenhead, Joshua Reynolds, accused the police of trying to "pass the buck" to the public for tackling shoplifting offences.
Mr Reynolds said: "These shameful figures show that the police are failing to crack down on the shoplifting epidemic facing our country.
"The suggestion by a Conservative police chief that it's up to the public to stop shoplifters was both reckless and dangerous. I've worked in retail, so I know what it feels like to have to confront shoplifters -it's frightening and it's dangerous."
The Met Police boasted the worst charge rate
| PAHe continued: "Senior police chiefs should be protecting us, not passing the buck to the public. It's time for the Government to scrap police and crime commissioners and invest the money in front-line policing instead. That way we can get more bobbies on the beat and stop this lawlessness on our high streets."
The data showed that although the number of shoplifting offences had risen, the proportion had fallen by one per cent.
Similarly, the overall number of offences resulting in charges fell last year, but the proportion increased marginally from 17.6 per cent to 18.3 per cent.
Norfolk posted one of the best rates, with nearly a third resulting in a charge.
Chief Constable at Norfolk Constabulary, Paul Sanford, told The Telegraph: "You answer the phone quickly, get to jobs quickly and investigate crime well. That's what we are prioritising."