Prolific shoplifters linked to 28,415 offences across England

September 16, 2026 at 05:11 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Police forces in England linked 28,415 recorded shoplifting offences to just 270 prolific suspects between 2020-21 and 2025-26. Policing minister Sarah Jones said shoplifters need to know they will be punished. The data comes as official figures show 502,011 shoplifting offences were recorded in England and Wales in 2025-26 alone.

Key Facts

Police forces linked 28,415 recorded shoplifting offences to 270 prolific suspects between 2020-21 and 2025-26.
One suspect in Sussex was linked to 247 shoplifting offences, equivalent to a reported crime every 10 days.
Police forces in England and Wales recorded 502,011 shoplifting offences in 2025-26, with more than half closed without identifying a suspect.
Policing minister Sarah Jones said shoplifting is a pernicious crime that has gone unpunished for too long.

Prolific Offenders

The 27 police forces that shared data with the BBC linked 28,415 recorded shoplifting offences to 270 suspects between 2020-21 and 2025-26. That is an average of 105 offences per person, based only on thefts formally reported to police where a suspect was identified. One suspect in Sussex was linked to 247 shoplifting offences, the equivalent of a reported crime every 10 days. Former prolific shoplifter Jeff Ashman said he stole goods worth £400 to £500 daily at the height of his offending in Hastings.

Official Response

Policing minister Sarah Jones said shoplifting is a pernicious crime that has gone unpunished for too long. She said prolific shoplifters need to know they are going to be punished for what they have done. The government is exploring technology and court orders preventing offenders from visiting certain shops or areas, in addition to prison sentences and drug treatment.

Impact on Retail

Official data shows police forces across England and Wales recorded 502,011 shoplifting offences in 2025-26, excluding British Transport Police. More than half of those investigations were closed with no suspect identified. John Bownas, who leads a team supporting shops in Hastings, said young staff face threats of needles and knives from violent shoplifters.