Shoplifting is a national scourge

PICTURES in today's Daily Record showing the knives being carried around by organised shoplifting gangs are terrifying.

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But they illustrate the truth behind the current explosion in retail theft - it is not being driven by desperate people stealing a few things here and there to get by.

It is driven by ruthless criminals with links to drug dealing, people trafficking and other organised crime.

Gangs walking out of supermarkets with bottles of spirits, champagne or aftershave are often lining the pockets of heavy duty crime lords.