“They just come in, they just take the stuff, and they just walk out, as if it’s their shop.”
That’s how Balu Baskaran, a small business owner in south-east London, describes the daily reality of running a store in 2024. No alarms, no panic — just people walking in, stealing goods in plain sight, and daring anyone to stop them. For him and thousands of other retailers across the UK, shoplifting has reached crisis levels. But the part that doesn’t make the headlines? The growing number of young people caught up in it — both as victims of the system and, sometimes, participants in the problem.
Shoplifting in London rose by 54% last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. Nationwide, it’s up 15%. These aren’t just stats. They reflect a shift — one that young people in particular are getting tangled in.
So What’s Really Going On?
The narrative around shoplifting is changing. We’re no longer talking about the odd teen nicking a chocolate bar. This is about full-on, organized, and sometimes violent theft. CCTV cameras aren’t a deterrent. Locked doors get smashed. Staff are being assaulted. Yet in the background, a dangerous new idea is quietly spreading: that shoplifting is low-risk, consequence-free, and somehow justified in hard times.
Let’s be real. We’re in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. Rent’s wild, food prices are climbing, and job opportunities for under-25s are shrinking fast. With 13.4% of 16–24-year-olds not in work, education or training, many young people feel stuck — invisible even. And when the system seems like it’s ignoring you, it’s not a giant leap to stop playing by its rules.
But here’s the truth: shoplifting adds up. And it always catches up.
The Impact on Young People
It starts small. Maybe it’s just one hoodie or a pack of snacks; Maybe it’s a dare, Maybe you’re with older kids who do it regularly. But the line between “just trying it” and becoming known to police is razor thin.
Operation Kelleher, a pilot programme in London, shows how the game changes quickly. It focuses on repeat offenders — young people who’ve committed 10, 15, even 20 thefts. Suddenly, that £15 pair of socks becomes a £1,000 criminal record. And when you’re finally caught, the courts don’t see a teenager making bad choices. They see a threat to public order. And that sentence hits different.
Then come the ripple effects:
- Job prospects? Damaged.
- Travel plans? Complicated.
- Mental health? Shattered.
- Family trust? Gone.
A criminal record at 17 or 18 doesn’t just mess up your now — it rewrites your future.
The Real Villains: Not Just the Kids
Let’s be honest, though. The real danger isn’t just young people making poor decisions — it’s the normalisation of shoplifting across social media and even in real life. We’ve seen the viral videos of people walking out with armfuls of products. Some even treat it like content — captioning it, laughing it off, turning crime into clout.
But behind the screens are real people. Real shop owners like Mr. Baskaran, who’ve had to barricade themselves inside their own shops. Real workers who’ve been punched in the face trying to protect a £20 bottle of wine.
And here’s what often gets ignored: young people are victims too. Victims of a broken economy, a policing system that feels reactive instead of preventative, and a society where their struggles are rarely taken seriously unless they go viral.
What Needs to Change
There are no easy fixes — but there are places to start.
- Youth education on consequences: Not just legal, but personal. Schools, youth centres, and online influencers need to talk about shoplifting in real, raw terms.
- Invest in jobs, not just punishment: If young people had real paths into employment and business, we wouldn’t be here. Give them something to lose, and they’ll protect it.
- Better relationships between youth and police: Programmes like Operation Kelleher work because officers know the community. More of that, less surveillance.
- Social media responsibility: Influencers glamorising theft? Cancel that noise. We need role models who inspire real hustle — not quick steals.
Hope and Hustle Over Headlines
The truth is, most young people don’t want to be involved in crime. They want to build, grow, and thrive. But we have to give them more than slogans. We have to build the systems that support their growth — schools that see them, employers that back them, and streets that feel safe.
And if you’re reading this and you’re feeling like you’ve made a few wrong turns — it’s not over. Not even close. One decision doesn’t define you. What defines you is what you do next.
Because yeah, shoplifting might feel like a quick escape. But it never ends where it starts. And for your future? You deserve better than that.
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