More than 105,000 incidents of theft will occur during this time, a rise of 206 per cent from a normal four week period.
Every hour, GB pound 2.93 million of stock will be lost, in 687 separate incidents of shoplifting, totalling around GB pound 26.4m on the busiest shopping day, December 22.
The research found that the value of stolen goods at Christmas time increases by 236 per cent compared to the rest of the year. Amongst shoplifters that are arrested, the value of items is normally around GB pound 77.95, but at Christmas thieves target higher priced goods, resulting in the value reaching GB pound 85.71.
During the Christmas period, Saturdays are the highest day for theft, but during the rest of the year Thursdays top the crime calendar. In fact, over the four week Christmas period, the value of goods stolen on a Saturday increases from GB pound 5.7m (from 1302 incidents) to GB pound 26.4m (from 6186 incidents) compared to the rest of the year.
In order, the top stolen products at Christmas are perfumes; alcohol; women’s wear; cosmetics; electronic media such as games, DVDs and CDs; razors and razor blades; electronics including iPods and their power adaptors, Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 consoles; Christmas groceries – packed meat and fish, cheese, biscuits, coffee, and chocolates; underwear and lingerie; and toiletries, deodorants and aftershave. Just outside the top ten are jeans, toys, power tools and domestic electricals.
David Nuttall, MD of Checkpoint Systems UK, said: “Christmas is a busy time for retailers. Ensuring product availability, customer service, and adequate staff levels is crucial, but in order to maximise profits, management must ensure security solutions are in place to protect stock. With a packed store it is difficult for staff to monitor the shop floor effectively, and therefore, it is time that technology solutions came into a world of their own.”
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