Jesmond has seen an increase in incidents of shoplifting this summer, particularly around the Acorn Road and West Jesmond areas. 

According to a police.uk crime map, there were 30 separate incidents of shoplifting reported in Jesmond in July alone, with a further 16 in August. Statistics had also been rising at the start of this year. 

One shop that has been targeted is the supermarket chain Sainsburys. with their branches in West Jesmond and Gosforth both being targeted by shoplifters. 

A security guard at a Sainsburys branch in Newcastle told JesmondLocal: “We’ve stopped placing expensive sale items such as salmon or meat near the door. Anything being sold for over £5 is now security tagged as well”. 

He added: “If anyone has their hands in the fresh meat aisle it sounds a buzzer. We then check to see if it’s worth keeping an eye on them”. 

In a statement provided to JesmondLocal by Sainsburys, the company said it was the first supermarket chain to equip workers with body cameras in every store, with footage uploaded directly to police portals. 

Sainsburys has also increased the number of security guards in stores, as well as using more security doors and CCTV.  

As well as Jesmond, shoplifting has become an increasingly nationwide issue. Tom Ironside, director of business and regulations at the British Retail Consortium, told JesmondLocal: “Shoplifting has risen 27% in the past year across ten of the largest UK cities. These high levels of theft cost retailers almost £1 billion in 2021/22, money that would be better used to reduce prices and invest in a better customer experience.” 

The increase in the cost of living is one of the main culprits behind the rise in shoplifting in recent years, as many people continue to struggle financially.  

Magazine The Grocer reported how store managers are seeing more “new, first-time shoplifters” as opposed to “usual suspects only” when dealing with shoplifting, as many more people turn to the strategy to survive. 

“Whenever we catch people stealing, we ask them to leave and most of the time they’ll be cooperative and just leave”, the Newcastle security guard told JesmondLocal.  

He told JesmondLocal that most of the people he encounters don’t appear to be criminals, but instead are desperate people. 

Have you experienced any shoplifting? If so, Northumbria Police encourage victims to ring 101 in a non-emergency, or 999 if a crime is in progress.