Shoplifting has become a persistent challenge for retailers across the South West, with store owners reporting physical assaults and theft as routine occurrences. Devon and Cornwall Police have responded by partnering with retailers to deploy new reporting technology, resulting in a dramatic increase in prosecutions. The charge and summons rate for shoplifting crimes has more than doubled from 16% in 2022-2023 to 31% since June 2026, according to Home Office figures.
Andrew Bond, who runs the Premier Store in Torquay, Devon, has experienced the problem firsthand.
We've had instances of us being pushed into fixtures and I've had someone drag me across the counter when I have refused to serve them.He describes shoplifting attempts as a daily occurrence at his premises, with incidents often intensifying during evening hours when customers become increasingly desperate or intoxicated.
The escalating problem reflects a wider crisis in retail crime. A national survey of almost 9,000 retail staff by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers found that more than three-quarters had suffered verbal abuse. Two-thirds of respondents reported that incidents of violence, threats and abuse they experienced were directly triggered by shop theft or armed robbery.
How are police tackling the problem?
Devon and Cornwall Police have partnered with UK Partners Against Crime (UK-PAC) to develop a mobile application that allows retailers to report crimes and alert neighbouring businesses when a shoplifter is operating in their area. The platform has transformed the reporting process, enabling store owners to document incidents in seconds rather than the 20 minutes typically required for a traditional 101 police report.
According to Stephen Manners of UK-PAC, the app recorded 855 incidents reported to Devon and Cornwall Police in the three months leading up to September 2026. More than 200 businesses have now joined the scheme, including major retailers such as Superdrug, Spar, Matalan, B&M and the Fraser Group, according to Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez.
Bond said the app has proven effective in his store.
It may take 20 minutes to do a 101 report but with this it can take a few seconds to add something so we can record everything.
The scheme began as a pilot in April 2025, when the Police and Crime Commissioner began funding initial 12-month free UK-PAC subscriptions in Torquay as part of an effort to reduce shoplifting and retail crime. The rollout later expanded beyond Torbay to towns including Liskeard, Saltash, Teignmouth, Torpoint, Looe and Barnstaple.
Sergeant Chris Chaloner of Devon and Cornwall Police explained that the new platforms address a longstanding obstacle to prosecution. Previously, many shoplifting offences were closed because police were not receiving the CCTV images and witness statements needed to progress investigations.
We know people who are committing shoplifting or shop theft will go on to commit other types of crimes such as serious violence and burglaries.The UK-PAC platform allows retailers to report crimes directly to police along with CCTV footage and statements, enabling faster action against prolific offenders.
This allows us to take quicker, swifter action against those prolific offenders and ultimately means they won't commit as much crime in the future,Chaloner added. The platform includes dedicated staff resources that triage business-crime reports and gather evidence packs for police prosecution, according to Devon and Cornwall Police.
How are communities using the app to prevent theft?
In Penzance, Cornwall, the app has enabled a coordinated community response. When an alert is raised that a shoplifter is in the area, shop owners and staff stand in front of their stores to prevent the individual from entering their premises. Rachel Gunderson, who owns The Honey Pot cafe in Penzance, said the system helped her retrieve two expensive items stolen from nearby stores when a shoplifter entered her premises.
I sat down, had a quiet conversation with her and I said, 'I think you might have been to a couple of my friends' shops and taken some things without paying for them. They've reported it to the police but if you give the stock back to me or pay for it in full, then they're not going to take it any further'.
Bond emphasised the emotional toll of retail crime on business owners.
We see our business as an extension of our home so it feels like people are invading our home when they are stealing from you.
What other approaches are being used?
In Exeter, retailers are using a different but complementary approach. Businesses are provided with handheld radios by Exeter Business Against Crime to report incidents directly to a CCTV control room equipped with 314 cameras positioned around the city.
Damien Curphey, store manager of Urban Outfitters in Exeter, described shoplifting as a daily challenge.
If we feel like we're being threatened we contact control and they can send some PCSOs over and they can monitor over CCTV where that person goes once they've left the store.
The funding for these initiatives has delivered measurable savings. According to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, its funding has saved police more than £150,000.
What happens next?
Businesses can continue to join the UK-PAC scheme with up to 12 months' free membership funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner, after which paid membership becomes available. The rollout is expected to continue across Devon and Cornwall as part of a wider, single national body expansion.
The success of these initiatives in the South West reflects broader efforts to tackle retail crime nationally. A national investigation revealed that 270 prolific shoplifters were linked to 28,415 offences across England between 2020-21 and 2025-26, prompting the government to introduce tougher laws, additional police officers and technology platforms to address the epidemic.
