The cost of retail crime soared year-on-year in 2010 despite retailers investing more than £210m in crime prevention. The number of offences affecting retailers dropped by 11% year-on-year, but thieves increasingly targeted higher value products. The average value of goods stolen rose to £70 from £45 the previous year. Shoplifters stole goods worth almost £400,000 every day last year according to the BRC’s Retail Crime Survey. Over £137m of goods was stolen, up from £99m in 2009.
