Shoplifting in West Yorkshire increases by 20 per cent

Office for National Statistics figures show about 19,700 shoplifting offences were recorded by West Yorkshire Police in the year to June – up from 16,400 in 2022.

Across September and October, four people were jailed for stealing from shops in Bradford.

Last month, Naheeda Hussain, 41, of Emm Lane in Heaton, was jailed for 26 weeks after stealing bottles of perfume and makeup from Boots in The Broadway on July 8.

Amraiz Ali, 29, of HMP Leeds, was sent to prison for six weeks after he stole an air fryer grill and food from Iceland, Manningham Lane, on September 9.

Daniel Lacey, 30, of Nature Way just off Halifax Road, received a 12-week sentence for stealing £362 worth of products from Sainsbury's in Bradford (March 24) and Brighouse (May 16).

Patrick Reilly, 53, of Northrop Close in Girlington, committed a spate of thefts at the Victoria Shopping Centre between March and May of this year.

He was jailed for 12 weeks after he stole alcohol, baby powder, and a shopping basket to a combined value of £325.

The cases took place at Bradford Magistrates Court (Image: Newsquest)It follows trends across England and Wales where reports of shoplifting increased 25 per cent, from 293,000 offences in 2021-22 to 365,200 last year.

However, it was below the 368,700 shoplifting crimes recorded in 2019, before the pandemic.

In West Yorkshire, police recorded about 80,000 theft offences in 2022-23. It was a rise from 72,500 the year before.

Overall theft offences have increased 10 from the previous year, with 1.7 million crimes recorded in the year to June.

The ONS said this rise was predominantly the result of increases in theft offences against businesses, such as shoplifting.

West Yorkshire Police recorded 313,200 total crimes in the year to June – up from 304,400 in 2021-22.

The overall number of crimes recorded by police in England and Wales in the year to June 2023 stood at 6.7 million, compared with 6.5 million in the previous 12 months.

The latest increase across has mainly been driven by the increase in shoplifting, together with a jump in fraud offences against businesses – more of which is being reported due to action by industry bodies, the ONS added.

A spokesperson from West Yorkshire Police said: "Police forces across the country have seen an increase in recorded theft offences.

"In many cases, the theft itself is only reported to the police after a suspect has already left the area, but we still take reports with analysis undertaken to link patterns of offending to try and identify those engaged in multiple offences.

"While there has been an increase in overall theft offences, we have not seen a notable increase in organised criminality or theft offences in which violence is used.

"In fact, violence with injury offences have decreased over this period."

Chief Constable John Robins QPM DL added: “While it is disappointing to see a slight increase in recorded crime in the county, this is in line with the national picture and against a backdrop of unprecedented demand on the police and other emergency services. 

“West Yorkshire Police remains one of the best-performing police forces in the country. In our latest inspection looking at the Force’s effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy, the Force was graded outstanding in four areas, including preventing crime and anti-social behaviour and disrupting serious and organised crime. 

“West Yorkshire has also previously been singled out by the HMICFRS (His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services) for recognition of our crime-recording accuracy.

"We are one of the largest police forces in the country and this, combined with our ethical approach to crime recording means that we have some of the highest recorded crime rates nationally.

"What we can say though is that behind these statistics, we have put victims at the forefront of our crime recording practices. 

“We have recently announced our Operational Policing Strategy for 2023-2028.

"Reducing crime remains one of our three policing purposes, alongside protecting vulnerable people and reassuring the public.

"We are determined to  keep West Yorkshire safe, deliver justice for victims and be an inclusive organisation.”