“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.
