Retail

Jean McCabe: Government and gardaí must get a grip on the retail crime epidemic sweeping our streets

The increase in theft and anti-social behaviour is damaging businesses and harming our towns and cities, the chief executive of Retail Excellence Ireland writes

Retail crime is escalating at an alarming rate, with nearly half of incidents happening in stores

The CSO crime statistics released in recent days cast a stark light on the challenges facing Irish retailers, revealing a 12 per cent increase in theft and related offences in the final quarter of 2023 alone.

This uptick isn't just a statistic; it confirms what our members see on the ground, that retail crime is escalating at an alarming rate, with nearly half of these incidents happening in stores.

These figures do not make for ...