Out of control

Concern as more than 20 million thefts from shops happen in a year

- GRAHAM HISCOTT

BRAZEN thieves are openly clearing store shelves in front of customers and staff as shoplift- ing spirals out of control.

In one such shameless attack, culprits in London's Oxford Street stole dummy phones to sell online to unwitting buyers.

Trade body the British Retail Consortium said the number of shoplifting incidents last year rose by 3.7 million to 20.4 million.

Thefts reported to police - 492,914 in the year to September, according to the Office for National Statistics - are at the highest level since records began in 2003.