Dramatic Increase In Shoplifting Over 20 Years

Figures show shoplifting in regional areas is on the rise

Regional crime figures from the CSO, released to an Ireland South MEP, show many counties are reporting a big increase in theft over the last 20 years.

The county with the highest increase is Kildare, with a 314% rise between 2003 and 2024.

That's followed by Tipperary, at 227%, Wexford at 207% and Clare at 191%.

The figure for Dublin North Central is the only ones to show a decrease over the period, at -3.17%.

Some other areas which recorded less of an increase include Waterford, at 53% and West Cork, at 64%.

CSO regional figures for the recorded crime of shoplifting indicate an upwards trend in the number of shoplifting offences over 20+ years

Call for action

Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú believes shoplifters are "giving two fingers to the State."

She's urging Government to introduce the Retail Crime Strategy which was promised in the Programme for Government.

She's calling for tough action on those who commit retail theft, including:

1. Mandatory prison sentences for anyone caught shoplifting on more than one occasion
2. Update the Public Order Acts to allow a prolific offender of retail crime to be excluded from a premises for a certain period of time.
3. Support targeted garda operations to tackle retail crime and remove assets from those suspected of organised retail theft.
4. Introduce a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker.
5. End the practice of ‘retail defamation’ where someone can sue a retailer for defamation if they are stopped with the bona fide belief that they have stolen something from the shop.