Employees are responsible for 40% of the value of theft across UK retailers, new research has found.
According to Retail Economics and Thruvision, two thirds of retailers think the opportunity for crime in warehouses has increased over the past decade with 43% of total staff theft coming from distribution centres.
The economic consultancy said that store and distribution workers account for the loss of £3.2bn while the value of theft is estimated to cost retailers £7.9bn this year.
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Financial pressure casued by the cost-of-living crisis was noted as one of the major causes of the rise in theft over the past year for two thirds of respondents.
A quarter also said that smaller, more valuable electrical items are more commonly being stolen, as well as essential grocery and clothing products.
Thruvision CEO Colin Evans said: “That employee theft is a rapidly growing problem is not a surprise, but the scale of financial losses suffered by UK retailers in their distribution centres really is.
“What is even more surprising is that so few retailers seem to be prepared to deal with this very serious problem when proven technology solutions exist”.
This comes as retailers are urging the government to help end the current crime epidemic as almost half (47%) of retail workers have admitted to feeling unsafe at work after being shouted at, spat on, threatened or hit every week.
