'Massive' increase in shoplifting by pensioners amid cost of living crisis

Food retailers have seen a "massive" increase in pensioner shoplifters over the last year, according to a leading store security firm, amid the rising cost of living.

- Sarah Butler

John Nussbaum, the director of service for retail at Kingdom Security, said that his staff were seeing a "different sort of shoplifter now" as the cost of living "pushes people to something they've never done before".

Kingdom Security, which provides security services for hundreds of stores across the country, including supermarkets, convenience stores and shopping centres, has received 20 to 30 reports of shoplifting a week from across Britain involving "people who just can't afford to buy food", Nussbaum said.

He told PA Media: "We've seen a massive increase in pensioners shoplifting, putting a jar of coffee in their bag and one in the trolley, that sort of thing." He estimated that 5% of those caught shoplifting by Kingdom staff on a weekly basis were aged over 50.