Police in Surrey have urged retailers to report all thefts, including so-called “small value” incidents, after local shops raised concerns over a spate of chocolate thefts.

The force said it was asking shopkeepers to tell officers about any stealing they notice after receiving reports of confectionery being targeted in stores.

“While the items involved may seem small, theft of any value can have an impact on local businesses,” Surrey Police said, adding that “the Easter Bunny may need to up their security to keep their chocolate safe”.

The warning comes as retailers across the UK continue to grapple with rising shoplifting levels, with chocolate increasingly becoming a target for thieves.

Some stores have already started locking bars and seasonal products in security boxes, amid reports that confectionery is being stolen to order.

Police forces in several parts of the country have highlighted the trend in recent months. In December, West Midlands Police released CCTV footage showing a man allegedly stealing trays of chocolate from a shop in Stourbridge, while Wiltshire Police shared footage of a suspect dragging an entire shelving unit of chocolate out of a store.

Earlier this year, Cambridgeshire Police arrested a man found with a coat full of Cadbury Creme Eggs.

More than 519,000 shoplifting offences were recorded in the year to September 2025, up 5 per cent year on year, while retail losses reached a record £2.2bn in 2023/24.

For many shopkeepers, however, the true scale of the problem is far greater than official figures suggest.

Retailers in parts of south London say theft has become a daily occurrence, with some claiming they no longer report lower-value incidents because they do not expect police to respond.

One anonymous shopkeeper said staff had stopped contacting police altogether. “We don’t call the police anymore, they don’t come so why bother?” he said.

The Federation of Small Businesses said under-reporting remained a major issue, particularly for thefts involving goods worth less than £200, which many retailers believe are unlikely to be prioritised.

Sarah King, the FSB’s London regional business and stakeholder manager, said many owners felt police would not act on lower-value crime, even though repeated small thefts could have a significant impact over time.

The Metropolitan Police said it was stepping up efforts to tackle shoplifting and repeat offenders. Between February 2024 and February 2025, the force recorded 7,161 “positive outcomes” in shoplifting cases, including charges and cautions. That figure rose 78 per cent to 12,761 over the following 12 months.

Chief inspector Rav Pathania, the Met’s lead for retail crime, said shoplifting remained a priority and that the force was increasingly using tools such as facial recognition to help identify offenders.

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