Shoplifting in Scotland has shot up 15% year-on-year (YoY) to 50,300 crimes in 2025, an increase of 137% from the year ending December 2021, according to ScotGov’s newly released recorded crime data. But while the increase is “disappointing”, the surge may be linked to improved levels of crime reporting by retailers, the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has claimed.
Dundee City recorded the highest percentage increase in shop theft with a 48.1% YoY rise from 1,937 in 2024 to 2,864 in 2025. This marked a huge 249% increase when compared to 2021. This alarming rise means Dundee City has overtaken Edinburgh as the local authority with the highest recorded number of shoplifting crimes per 10,000 capita in Scotland.
East Dumbartonshire also saw a sharp uplift in recorded shop theft, up 43% to 561 crimes, while Perth & Kinross recorded 1,099 shop thefts (up 39% YoY) and Inverclyde saw shop thefts climb 30% to 923 crimes.
Edinburgh City had the overall highest number of recorded shop thefts, up 27% to 9,642, followed by Glasgow City, up 26% with 8,982.
Meanwhile, the Shetland Islands, Aberdeenshire and Clackmannanshire saw the biggest YoY percentage declines in shop theft figures at -25%, -21% and -20% respectively.
In total, 12 Scottish local authorities saw a decline in recorded shoplifting crimes, while 20 experienced an increase.
However, the rise in the nation’s official shoplifting figures does not necessarily mean a 15% increase in the number of shop theft crimes being committed, highlighted SRC, noting that the implementation of Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce had led to an increase in retailers reporting crime to the police.
Ewan MacDonald-Russell, SRC Deputy Head, said:
“Shop theft continues to be a blight on our communities. Thieving from stores isn’t a victimless crime. It’s a key factor behind rising levels of abuse and threats towards shop workers and we know from member feedback that thieves are becoming bolder and more aggressive. The financial cost is immense. Our most recent crime report found the total cost of retail crime across the UK last year was £985m. That cost is paid for through higher prices, a worse shopping experience, and undermines the health and vitality of our high streets
“Whilst the rise in recorded crime is disappointing, it’s likely some of this is a consequence of the increased police response following the creation of the Retail Crime Taskforce. Retailers are starting to increase reporting in the hope Police Scotland will be able to respond more effectively than in the past. So this rise may not mark an increase in crime; just in retailers informing the Police.
“However, even these elevated figures are unlikely to capture the full picture of shop theft. Our crime report found there were 5,451,000 incidents of theft from stores across the UK. That reaffirms the need for the Retail Crime Taskforce funding be sustained and enhanced and for the courts to play their part if we are to truly turn the tide on thieving and crime against retailers.”
