Nearly nine in ten independent retailers believe theft has worsened compared to last year, according to a new survey by the British Independent Retailers Association.

The survey found that almost 77 per cent of respondents reported experiencing theft in the past 12 months – up from 64 per cent in Bira’s previous survey.

Staff safety was a key concern, with reports of employees of all ages being physically manhandled or threatened while trying to protect stock.

More than three quarters of respondents said they believed thieves were becoming more brazen, and over 75 per cent identified repeat offenders as responsible for the theft they experienced. Responses described known individuals returning to the same stores repeatedly, groups using distraction tactics, and incidents linked to organised crime and drug dependency.

Over two thirds of respondents said verbal abuse towards staff had increased over the past 12 months, with incidents typically linked to challenging shoplifters or disputes over refunds and pricing. Seven per cent reported physical abuse, and 45 per cent of those said the situation had worsened in the past year.

The financial toll is significant, with more than 10 per cent of respondents estimated their total annual cost from retail crime – including security measures, lost stock and staff time – at over £10,000.

Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free

Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: “Retail crime is not a fringe issue, it is a daily reality for independent businesses across Britain. The fact that nearly 90 per cent of those who have experienced theft say it is getting worse, and that many retailers are now spending thousands of pounds a year trying to protect themselves, shows the scale of what is being asked of small business owners who simply want to trade and serve their communities.

“We need to see stronger enforcement, clearer sentencing, and a police presence that matches the problem. Independent retailers cannot continue to absorb these costs alone.”

Many retailers have changed how they operate in response. Nearly two thirds said they had altered how they display or store products, with measures including locked cases, reduced floor stock, and items moved behind counters. Over a third said those changes had negatively affected sales or customer experience. More than 18 per cent had been forced to increase staffing levels specifically to deter or manage crime.

Despite the scale of the problem, police response remains a source of frustration. More than 45 cent of those who experienced theft did not report it to police at all. Of those who did, police attended in 67 per cent of cases – and of those, just 35 per cent led to a prosecution.