Tell us what you know about retail crime in Scotland

Help protect Scotland’s retail staff

In partnership with Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce, we’ve launched a campaign to help tackle the growing problem of organised theft and sale of stolen goods from Scotland’s shops.With increasing reports of theft, violence and abuse targeting retail workers, the campaign aims to empower communities and the industry to report incidents and remain 100% anonymous.

Police Scotland figures show that between April 2024 and October 2025, goods worth an estimated £3.6 - £5 million were reported stolen through shoplifting, which accounts for almost 40% of all recorded acquisitive crime across the country.

Scotland’s retail sector has seen a rise in theft linked to organised crime gangs. It is thought that organised crime groups are responsible for around a third of these thefts. Retail groups believe that the true cost is far higher, with losses across Scotland exceeding £170 million a year.

Tell us what you know

Do you have information about retail crime? You can tell us and remain 100% anonymous - guaranteed.

Call 0800 555 111 any time, day or night, or fill in our quick and easy online form here on our website:

Give information anonymously

We guarantee complete anonymity, meaning that people who call or contact us online can pass on what they know without ever giving any personal details. Computer IP addresses are never traced. Telephone calls are never recorded, there is no caller line display and no 1471 facility.

The Retail Crime Taskforce

In response to the ongoing rise in retail offences, Police Scotland received a funding allocation of £3m for the year 2025/26 and used this to launch the Retail Crime Taskforce.

The unit is dedicated to ensuring police, retailers and stakeholders can work together to try to stop retail crime through crime prevention and deter people becoming involved in such offences through education and diversionary support.

Where retail crime occurs, the Taskforce seeks to help mitigate the impact by improving processes such as reporting of offences to Police Scotland and conducting regular enforcement activity to bring those responsible to justice.

Since April, dedicated Taskforce officers and operations supported by the Taskforce have helped detect more than 2,000 retail offences across Scotland.

The human cost

In addition to the financial impact of shoplifting, the human cost of retail theft is incalculable. As part of the Crimestoppers initiative, we spoke to the public and retail staff about the impact of theft from the shops they worked in.

Many said they felt afraid and anxious at work. Several who witnessed crimes were left unable to return to work. Some smaller, local businesses were considering closing because of the daily threat of thefts.

Two recent incidents shared by Retailers Against Crime underline the human impact:

A man was stopped by store staff, and he then produced a large kitchen knife and threatened them with it. He then fled the premises, and the store called the police. He was stopped, arrested and the knife was confiscated.
Another worker was assaulted after confronting a man who had left a store without paying for items. He later returned and physically attacked the security guard.

Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Knight from the Retail Crime Taskforce said:

“Our mission statement could not be simpler. We must reduce retail crime in all its forms and ensure that we work closely with the retail sector and retail workers to mitigate against the devastating impact of retail crime on those affected.
“Enforcement plays a key role and over the last seven months, thousands of offences have been detected by dedicated Taskforce resources supporting their local policing colleagues.
“However, the police cannot solve this problem alone - and that is why we are collaborating with Crimestoppers to raise awareness around the impact of retail crime on retailers, their staff and local communities, and urge those who have information about individuals committing retail crime, or those selling and buying stolen retail property to report it.

"Retail crime is not victimless and together we can make a difference.”