The Office of National Statistics has said shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales have risen to the highest level since current data began in 2003.
A total of 430,104 offences were logged by forces last year, up more than a third (37 per cent) on the 315,040 recorded in the previous 12 months to December 2022.
The data published today, comes after major retailers raised concerns about the rising cost of theft.
The figures also show the number of offences involving theft from the person stood at 125,563 in 2023, up 18 per cent from 106,606 in 2022 and is the highest level since 2004 (137,154).
There has been concern from major retailers about the cost of shoplifting
PA
Nick Stripe, from the ONS, said: "In the past 12 months, police recorded crime shows notable increases in robbery, theft from the person and shoplifting.
"The latter has risen by more than 100,000 offences, while the police have been dealing with the highest levels of theft from the person offences recorded in two decades."
It comes as shoplifting is estimated to cost London £9.2million every month, with new figures showing a 48 per cent spike in offences, reports Evening Standard.
City Hall police and crime spokesman for the Liberal Democrats Caroline Pidgeon said: "The increase in shoplifting across London is unacceptable."
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Caroline Pidgeon said the shoplifting situation in London is 'unacceptable'
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She added: "The Met commissioner and [Mayor] Sadiq Khan need to get to grips with a problem that is quickly becoming endemic. The fact that the rate of shoplifting has risen so much in London compared to the rest of the country is a real concern."
It comes as the number of offences involving knives or sharp instruments stood at 49,489 in 2023, up seven per cent from 46,153 in 2022.
However, three per cent lower than the pre-pandemic total of 51,206 offences in the year ending March 2020.
Due to data recording issues, the figures for knives or sharp instruments do not include Greater Manchester Police and Devon & Cornwall Police.
Separate figures that emerged earlier this month show convenience store thefts have soared to 5.6million from 1.1million in just one year.
Figures from the Association of Convenience Stores also revealed that there were 76,000 acts of violence in small shops last year, up from 41,000.
Meanwhile, the British Retail Consortium said thefts cost retailers £1.8billion in 2022-23, up from £953m the previous year.
