Worcester Shoppers Avoid City Due to Shoplifting Concerns

A shop guard in the city center sees a lot. He says customers look shaken by shoplifting. Some shoppers don’t feel safe because of it. Worcester Councillor Lynn Denham thinks the Worcester BID is helpful. She wants to assure everyone that Worcester is safe.

The guard wanted to stay anonymous. He said the problem is obvious to see. His shop can have four shoplifting cases each day. People avoid the city center if they see stealing. They worry they could get robbed, too. It looks bad for the city and stores.

The guard said people told him they feel unsafe. This happened after he caught shoplifters. His store lost over £200,000 in a stocktake. Most of the loss was from shoplifting. The guard showed that £1,500 was stolen this last week.

The British Retail Consortium says shoplifting is common. They say over 55,000 cases happen daily in the UK. Councillor Denham believes shoplifting is unacceptable. She acknowledges that the police response feels slow.

She blames public sector spending cuts. Denham says the Worcester BID is proactive. The BID works with businesses to keep the city safe. She says Worcester is safe for shopping with local shops.

Worcester police patrol in uniform and plain clothes. West Mercia Police report a 5% drop in shoplifting since 2023, bucking trends. Worcester theft also decreased compared to last year.

Police know shoplifting affects local businesses. They want the public to feel safe. City teams focus on preventing shoplifting. Officers patrol regularly to deter criminals. Patrols use intelligence to target high-crime areas.

Police partner with business to address shoplifting. They work closely with retailers and share data. The Worcester BID helps police connect with stores. The BID’s radio system lets shops share information quickly. Police monitor this and help as they can.