According to Crimerate, in the 2026 period, there were recorded 473,070 shoplifting offences in England & Wales with a sharp decrease from 2.7% from 2025’s figure. Also it shows around 7.36 shoplifting offences per 1,000 population.
The most dangerous cities for shoplifting are Kensington and Chelsea, Northampton, and Middlesbrough, with crime rates of 18.76, 15.6, and 14.53 per 1,000 daytime population, respectively.
But what are the most common stolen items from Supermarket theft that people are interested in? And how can you protect your supermarket or retail outlet from theft? We will explore these questions in today’s article.
Table of Contents
Most Shoplifted Items
Below is a list detailing some of the most frequently stolen items from retailers’ shelves, and what shoplifters may do with these items.
1. Packed Meat
Ranging from bacon to lamb to steak, this category of items is among the most common shoplifted items in supermarkets. These meats tend to be expensive and in high-demand – enterprising thieves will take advantage of this fact and attempt to fence them in a variety of methods, like door-to-door sales or shilling them out in pubs and clubs.
2. Razor Blades
Razor blades are also among the most shoplifted items, for a plethora of reasons – the most popular being that they are easy to conceal due to their small size, and the other being that they are expensive and in high-demand, much like meat.
3. Alcohol
Alcohol, in general, tends to be very eye-catching to criminals – but particularly pricey alcohol tends to be a primary target for shoplifters. They will often steal Prosecco, Whisky, Champagne or Gin for the purpose of reselling them to a ready market that will want to stock up on expensive drinks for cheaper.
4. Beauty Cosmetics
Luxury cosmetic goods, such as make-up and lipsticks are commonly stolen for personal use, or to gift to others during seasonal events, like birthdays and Christmas. Additionally, they tend to be quite small and compact, making them considerably easier to tuck away into pockets, bags, etc.
5. Cheese
One of the more unexpected and strange items to steal, cheese ranks relatively high as a frequently shoplifted good. As of 2009, cheese was actually the most stolen item from supermarkets throughout the UK and Europe. Research suggests it’s caused by its resale value – though
6. Branded Deodorants
Deodorants tend to make for an easy bulk theft, achieved when shoplifters sweep a fixture up with their forearm to steal multiple of the products in one go.
7. Batteries
Unfortunately, the market surrounding batteries is likely to remain lucrative, only increasing in demand, given that many electronic devices in homes are reliant on them. They’re also packaged in small boxes and sets, making them an easy, low-risk target.
8. Clothing Accessories
Fashion accessories such as scarves, handbags, purses and gloves tend to be another commonly stolen item. Whilst they may be more challenging due to their size, they have a readily available market – especially accessories from designer brands.
9. Coffee
Again, coffee may seem another unusual good to steal, much like cheese. However, coffee seems to be growing ever expensive and is a popular resale good with high demand. Tea, on the other hand, tends to be cheaper and not worth the risk or reward for thieves to steal.
10. Baby Clothes
Upsettingly, baby clothes are another frequent theft. Most of the time, people who steal baby clothes will do it out of desperation to keep their children warm and clothed but unfortunately, such is not always the case. Some professional thieves tend to see it as an avenue for profit, as there is a huge potential market for growing babies that regularly need larger and multiple sets of clothes.
11. Jeans
Jeans are often stolen in bulk, and whilst they’re a larger and harder target, they offer ease of resale given their popularity in terms of fashion appeal.
12. Perfumes & Fragrances
Fragrances and perfumes which aren’t properly secured make for another easy pick for career thieves, given that the products are relatively small in size, but fetch a large price on the market.
Other Commonly Shoplifted Items
Other items that are commonly stolen include, but aren’t limited to, small electronic goods (such as phones) and their accessories, sports fashion items, and box sets of DVDs & games.
Reason for Most Common Stolen Items From Supermarket Theft
Reasons for supermarket theft can vary greatly. As previously touched upon, one of the key reasons for supermarket theft can be attributed to the cost-of-living crisis. People will steal low-cost foods and essentials out of sheer necessity to feed themselves or their family, as opposed to looking to make a profit from it.
Unfortunately, career thieves still very much exist in the supermarket theft sphere and will likely steal from stores to continue making profits by stealing high-cost goods to sell on the black market.
How Can Retailers Prevent Supermarket Thefts?
Retail outlets can take reasonable, achievable steps to help prevent theft of goods. Some of the security measures that can be put in place are:
- Securing high-value, vulnerable items using security tags, or by hiding them behind a lock and key or a till.
- Optimising the store layout by placing valuables or frequently stolen items at checkouts or in areas with good visibility.
- Put up warning signs as a deterrent to potential shoplifters.
How Retail Security Solutions Can Prevent Theft in Supermarkets
However, by far one of the best ways to help mitigate potential thefts in a retailer setting is by hiring dedicated Retail Security services.
Retail security solutions can include the following prevention measures:
- Uniformed guards that act as a powerful, visual deterrent against theft.
- Visible and thorough CCTV coverage throughout the storefront to act as yet another visual deterrent.
- Plain-clothes store detectives to keep an eye on suspicious, but unsuspecting individuals within the store.
These solutions aim to prevent the active and potential theft of supermarket goods effectively. Additionally, they may act as an excellent investment for any store, especially considering that the crime survey 2026 report that almost £5.5 billion was spent on crime prevention in the past 5 years.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered some of the Most Common Stolen Items From Supermarket Thefts as well as some of the possible reasons for stealing these items.
If you find yourself interested in learning more about retail security, why not visit our news and insights page, where you can find more regarding What is Retail Security? or Retail Security Officer Duties.
We also have an official Region Security Guarding YouTube channel where you can stay up to date with all the latest security news, tips and tricks, including Why UK Retail Outlets Need More Security.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do certain supermarket items get stolen more than others?
Some goods are easy to hide, while others are pricey. Just a few tick both boxes of meat, perfume, and blades stand out most than others. Because they sell fast on the street and easier.
2. Are people stealing food because they need it?
In some cases, yes. Rising costs push people to take basics like baby items or groceries. But not every case is driven by need.
3. What products are most attractive to organised shoplifters?
They go for profit. Which makes alcohol, fragrances, and branded goods to move quickly and bring cash. Still, the small size helps better too.
4. Can store layout really reduce theft?
Yes. Clear sightlines matter as locked cabinets, mirrors, and smart placement. These things make stealing harder and riskier.
5. What is the simplest way to deter shoplifters?
Visible staff presence works better in prevention. Adding cameras and tags is extra protection. When people feel watched, they think twice.
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