A female was arrested on 28th of January in Edinburgh city centre wanted on multiple warrants for theft shoplifting. Working in conjunction with Essential Edinburgh, CCTV and security officers in the city centre, the female was identified in a busy shopping area and arrested.
It was confirmed that she had committed a further two theft by shoplifting offences that morning. After appearing at court, she was remanded awaiting trial for 22 outstanding charges of theft by shoplifting for high value items.
In recent weeks, the Edinburgh #RetailCrimeTaskforce have arrested 29 persons for theft by shoplifting and charged them with over 350 offences.
We will continue to work in partnership with retailers and the public to target those choose to commit retail crime as it is #NotAVictimlessCrime.
If you have any information relating to retail crime or the resale of stolen property, please report this to the police or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at https://orlo.uk/lZlFY
Draft budget confirmed continued funding for next three years to tackle retail crime
A police-led taskforce will continue its work to tackle shoplifting and violence against staff after securing funding in the draft budget for 2026-27.
The Retail Crime Taskforce was launched in April last year following £3 million investment from the Scottish Government to combat a rise in retail crime.
In the first year of operation, the Taskforce’s targeted approach to prevent, pursue, protect and prepare in areas identified as most at risk has resulted in 3,671 shoplifting charges and detections.
A further 508 charges under the Protection of Workers (Scotland) Act 2021 for offences against retail workers have been made along with a total of 807 arrests.
The funding announcement of a continued £3 million each year for the next three years, in the Scottish Government’s recent draft budget for 2026-27, comes in addition to an overall Police Scotland budget increase to over £1.7 billion – a rise of £81.5 million, or 5%, compared to the 2025-26 Autumn Budget Revision.
A dedicated unit to tackle retail crime has been established by @PoliceScotland – backed by £3 million from @scotgov.
The investment in the Retail Crime Taskforce is on top of record funding of £1.62 billion for policing in 2025-26.
Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “Shop workers deserve to feel safe, and retailers deserve to trade without fear of shoplifting. In less than a year, Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce has provided a visible and measurable impact on retail crime, working directly with retailers to prevent offending, pursue criminals, and protect shop workers.
“That is why the Scottish Government is providing a further £3 million in each of the next three years to continue this vital work – both preventing crime and ensuring offenders are held to account.
“This is in addition of a record £1.7 billion policing budget, enabling Police Scotland to deliver on frontline priorities and progress its transformation agenda.”
Mark Millar, Director of Stores for Boots in Scotland, said: “Tackling retail crime is a collaborative effort, so we are fully committed to working with the Scottish Government and Police Scotland to ensure that our retail stores and high streets remain vibrant, welcoming, and safe environments for our store teams and customers.
“As an active member of the Retail Crime Taskforce since its inception, we welcome this funding which will strengthen our ability to share intelligence between Police and disrupt public offenders.”
Assistant Chief Constable, Police Scotland, Tim Mairs said: “Since April 2025, the Retail Crime Taskforce has assisted local policing divisions across the country in tackling retail offences and bringing those responsible to justice.
“During this time over 3,600 crimes have been detected and more than 800 arrests made as a direct result of Taskforce-supported enforcement activity. In addition, our commitment to crime prevention has seen us liaise with numerous outlets throughout Scotland to offer specialist advice aimed at improving security and enhancing the safety of retail workers.
“The additional three-year funding we have received from Scottish Government is recognition of the significant progress made in the last nine months, but we know more must be done to tackle retail crime and we will not become complacent in our efforts to reduce crimes such as shoplifting and the assault and harassment of retail workers.”
Independent charity Crimestoppers Scotland in partnership with Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce has launched a national 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 anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers.
Scotland’s retail sector has seen a rise in theft linked to organised crime gangs.
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.
It is thought that organised crime groups are responsible for around a third of these thefts. Retail groups, believe the true cost is far higher, with losses across Scotland exceeding £170 million a year.
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 capital 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 2000 retail offences within Scotland.
In addition to the financial impact of shoplifting, the human cost of retail theft is incalculable. As part of the Crimestoppers initiative, the charity 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 -staff, and this caused him to produce a large kitchen knife before threatening them with it. The male then fled the premises, and the store called the police. He was stopped, arrested and the knife was retained.
Another worker was assaulted after confronting a man who had left a store without paying for items. The offender later returned and physically attacked the security guard.
Angela Parker, National Manager of Crimestoppers Scotland said: “Our charity wants to empower communities and retail staff to pass on information anonymously about WHO is behind, organised shop theft.
“Your information could help prevent serious abuse and violent incidents and help Scotland’s shop workers feel safer at work. You will never be asked for your name or any personal details, and your information could make a real difference.”
Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown said: “The Scottish Government recognises the harm caused by retail crime to businesses and those that work there.
“Our budget for 2025/26 has made an additional £3 million available to Police Scotland to help tackle the issue, which has led to the establishment of their Retail Crime Taskforce.
“Alongside our partners we want to prevent such incidents and pursue those responsible. I commend Crimestoppers, Police Scotland and all involved for raising awareness of this important issue as we approach the festive season, and their continuing efforts in this area.”
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Strategic Lead for Acquisitive Crime, said: “We recognised that retail offences were contributing to the overwhelming majority of acquisitive crimes taking place across Scotland and having a significant impact on businesses and retail staff.
“In response, and through engagement with the Scottish Government, we set out a strategy for addressing this.
“Thanks to a £3m funding allocation for the year 2025/26, we were able to establish the Retail Crime Taskforce and since April, this dedicated unit has supported local policing divisions across Scotland to address retail crime, work closely with those in the retail sector to consider and enhance their security measures and bring offenders to justice.
“We also know that partnership work, such as this campaign, helps raise the profile of retail crime, so all relevant groups and individuals can reflect on the role they can play in tackling offences of this nature.”
Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Knight from the Retail Crime Taskforce added: “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, 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”
Lucy Brown, Retail Industry Leadership Co Chair, said, on behalf of the Retail Industry Leaders Group (RILG) “I am pleased to see the progress the Retail Crime Task Force is making, and look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Police Scotland and the Scottish Government to ensure its continued success.”
Stephanie Karte, CEO Retailers Against Crime: “Retail crime is not a victimless offence and partnership working is key to tackling the growing threat faced by retailers and their staff.
“At Retailers Against Crime, we are seeing a sharp rise in incidents across our member network, with offenders becoming increasingly bold and organised. By working together in partnership, we can address this problem more effectively.
“We are stronger together and we urge the public to report any activity that may help identify or deter those responsible. The more eyes and ears we have, the greater our ability to disrupt criminal behaviour and make a real difference in keeping our communities safe.”
Four men have been charged with more than 30 retail crime offences following enforcement carried out in Edinburgh.
On Tuesday (4 August) local officers, acting on intelligence gathered by the Retail Crime Taskforce, arrested a 45-year-old and 37-year-old in connection with 21 shoplifting incidents from supermarkets and convenience stores in Causewayside and Marchmont.
A 36-year-old man was also arrested for five shopliftings that took place at supermarkets in Gorgie and Chesser, while a 41-year-old was arrested in connection with five separate warrants that were all in relation to shoplifting offences in the Chesser and Gorgie areas.
Inspector David Duthie said: “These arrests are further example of the successful collaboration between divisional officers and Retail Crime Taskforce colleagues to address retail crime within the Capital.
“All reports of retail crime are treated with the utmost seriousness, and whether it’s one shoplifting incident, or several, we will use all resources at our disposal to bring offenders to justice.”
A man has been arrested in connection with a spate of shopliftings in the Southside.
As a result of proactive inquiries conducted by the Retail Crime Taskforce, the 34-year-old was traced to an address in Buccleuch Street on Tuesday (24 June).
It was then established that he was in breach of bail conditions imposed following his release from prison in the Greater Manchester area.
He has been recalled to prison and will be reported for a total of 18 offences that took place at various Sainsbury’s convenience stores.
Inspector David Duthie said: “This was a terrific piece of investigative work by members of the Edinburgh Retail Crime Taskforce and as a result we’ve detected a significant number of shoplifting crimes that were reported within the Southside.
“I want to make it clear to anyone committing retail crime offences throughout the city that their actions will not be tolerated and whether it’s local policing resources, or members of the Taskforce, we’ll continue to gather evidence and bring you to justice.
“We will also continue to support the city’s retailers in enhancing their own security and crime prevention measures as we strive to reduce the number of retail crime incidents occurring.”
