| Abstrakt: |
Shop theft in the UK is on the rise, with shoplifting incidents more than doubling in the last three years, costing retailers £953 million annually. While some individuals resort to stealing out of necessity, there is also a surprising subculture of affluent women who engage in shoplifting for the thrill of it. These middle-class shoplifters, known as SWIPERS, often steal by accident at self-checkouts and then continue to do so intentionally. They justify their actions by perceiving themselves as above the law and believing that big retailers are the real criminals. Additionally, there has been an increase in the middle classes buying stolen goods on social media platforms, turning a blind eye to their origins. Retailers are implementing advanced technology and security measures to combat theft, and the police are taking retail crime more seriously by establishing task forces and strategies to address the issue. [Extracted from the article] |
