Shoplifters cost UK stores 4.4 billion pounds a year

London, Oct 19 (ANI): Research compiled from 42,000 European retailers has found that shoplifters cost UK stores 4.4 billion pounds a year.

According to the BBC, the survey, carried out on behalf of retail security company Checkpoint Systems, found that an average of 12,054,794 pounds-worth of goods were stolen every day in the country in the 12 months till end June this year.

And as stores pass on their losses to consumers, it claims that theft adds about 180 pounds to the average shopping bill of every family.

Staff members were behind more than a third of thefts, and the most common item pilfered was branded clothing, with meat, cheese, alcohol and seafood also being frequent targets.

Neil Matthews, from Checkpoint Systems, said a typical "theft spree" saw 93pounds-worth of goods taken.

"While the amount stolen in the UK may well have gone down, that doesn't mean the overall impact on the general public is any less significant. Shoplifting results in a #180 financial burden on every family in the country and so there is a real social obligation on the retail industry to do everything it can to tackle retail crime," he added.

About 970 million pound was reportedly spent on increased retail security last year, but it did not curb the British stores being targeted by their own staff, the report said. (ANI)