Don't beg or borrow, just steal: European gangs exploiting trafficked women and children in UK shoplifting epidemic

Retail experts have issued a warning that Eastern European criminal gangs are trafficking hundreds of vulnerable women and children to the UK, compelling them to shoplift for illicit gains. As per reports, the Retailers Against Crime (RAC) partnership is actively tracking over 50 shoplifting groups financing organised crime, with a Scottish company identifying a 154-member gang stealing high-value items in bulk for resale or international shipment. These criminal networks, connected to firearms offenses, drug activities, and human trafficking, are causing a financial burden on stores, estimated at £1 billion annually. During the festive season, concerns about lost revenue are heightened, with an average of 1,000 shoplifting offenses recorded daily by the Home Office. Maxine Fraser, managing director of RAC, revealed that a crime group based in Glasgow has been under surveillance since 2019. This group sends members across the UK to shoplift, even trafficking young girls aged 12 to 14 for this purpose. Up to 15 children are reportedly still working for this gang. Despite arrests and convictions, their age often results in quick release, enabling them to resume shoplifting. In London, another gang of around 100, predominantly comprising female members trafficked from Eastern Europe, focuses on cosmetic stores, targeting high-value items like fragrances and face creams. Former policeman Adam Ratcliffe, running the Safer Business Network, was quoted in a report saying that male handlers oversee operations from a safe distance, utilising women for theft to minimize the risk of detection. Ratcliffe noted the grim conditions for those executing the crimes, as they bear all the risks with minimal rewards. Research from the Association of Convenience Stores (ASC) indicates over 1.1 million reported theft incidents in the last year. More than a third of retailers believe theft has worsened, with almost two-thirds of thefts committed by repeat offenders operating for organized gangs. James Lowman of ASC highlighted that these gangs often exploit vulnerable individuals with addiction problems to steal higher-value items like meat, coffee, alcohol, and confectionery, which are easily resold. Recent cases, such as a couple jailed for shoplifting over £30,000 worth of alcohol and perfumes, underscore the severity of this issue.