Shoplifting across the West Midlands has risen significantly over the past two years, according to the latest data. New figures presented to the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner's Accountability and Governance Board reveal that overall business crime offences reached 55,271 in the year ending March 2026, marking a 2.6% increase.
Shoplifting Surge
A key factor driving this rise is the continued increase in shoplifting, both nationally and regionally. Recorded shoplifting in the West Midlands jumped by 30.2%, with 31,620 offences logged in the year ending March 2026, compared to 24,295 in the year ending March 2024.
Positive Outcomes Improve
Despite the increase in offences, the report highlighted a major improvement in the proportion of shoplifting crimes achieving positive outcomes for victims. In the year ending March 2026, 9,511 positive outcomes were recorded, giving a rate of 30% – 15.6% higher than in March 2024. The report attributes this to “targeted activity aimed at bringing more offenders to justice.”
Increased Confidence in Reporting
At the meeting, police bosses noted that business owners are now more confident in reporting crimes. Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Andy Parsons stated: “For a significant number of years, the approach to shop-related crime was not on a similar par to other areas of crime investigated by West Midlands Police. We have taken significant steps to address that. That now features in terms of the number of arrests we are making for shop-related crime.”
Parsons added: “We know there was a huge amount of under-reporting when it came to shop-related crime previously. Increased confidence in the policing response is likely to generate an increase in reporting. I am not saying that is the whole rationale, but it will play a significant part in that.”
Problem-Solving Strategy
The force is also adopting a prevention and problem-solving strategy. “We are not just seeking to respond but to actually problem solve,” Parsons explained. “This is where work with retailers is actually quite key. A large proportion of shop-related crime that is reported is committed by a small number of individuals. The individuals that commit that crime are often doing so, not for financial gain, but to fund an addiction of either drink or drugs.”
West Midlands Police is rolling out an offender-to-recovery programme across all seven local policing areas. “That programme is targeted on tackling the cause of the offending rather than punishing the offender,” Parsons said.
