Shoplifting accounted for almost half of all reported crime in Jesmond and Heaton at the end of this summer (August 2026) causing shop-owners to increase security precautions. The area around West Jesmond Metro appears to have been a particular hotspot for shoplifting, with more than 44 incidents reported in August alone.

According to Northumbria Police, Acorn Road has recently seen high levels of shoplifting, with one Greggs employee telling JesmondLocal the bakery has had “a lot” of incidents recently and that she believes this may be partly due to a lack of security officers.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020/21, there has been a national rise in reported shoplifting incidents, with last year only slightly lower than the previous year. The Northumbria Police region has the second-highest levels of shoplifting in the UK, at a rate 44% higher than the UK average.

At Nucasa, a shop on Brentwood Avenue, owner Laura told JesmondLocal how a recent incident highlighted the effect shoplifting can have on independent businesses. During the incident, two bottles of alcohol were stolen, and Laura said the suspect later returned for a second attempt, with staff members having to intervene. Although staff managed to obtain photos of the offender, Laura said she did not think the incident resulted in a conviction.

The incident, said Laura, has made her reconsider how she sets up her store, with all alcohol bottles now on display being fake, both to discourage shoplifters and reduce loss if another incident occurred.

Jesmond’s neighbourhood police officers told JesmondLocal that there “multiple factors” behind the rise in shoplifting, including the cost-of-living crisis, as well as more businesses readily reporting theft.

The officers said they wanted to “break the myth” that shoplifting isn’t investigated thoroughly. They stressed that they target what they label as “prolific” shoplifters who regularly hit stores, as they often entice others around them to commit similar acts. The officers said they recognise that shoplifting is a societal issue that will not go away easily. However, they said they hoped that by making themselves known to local businesses and members of the public, they can create a sense of trust, and their presence in the area will help deter individuals from committing crimes. Both officers praised Jesmond locals for their readiness to assist them in the prevention of crime.

Anyone with concerns about non-emergency crime in their local area can contact Northumbria Police through its website here.