The cost of retail crime climbed year on year in 2010, despite retailers investing more than £210m in crime prevention.

Shoplifters stole goods worth almost £400,000 every day last year according to the British Retail Consortium’s Retail Crime Survey. More than £137m of goods was stolen, up from £99m in 2009.

The number of offences affecting retailers dropped by 11% year on year, but thieves increasingly targeted higher-value products. The average value of goods stolen increased to £70 from £45 in 2009.

Retailers increased spending on crime prevention by 10% last year. The BRC called on law makers and enforcers to match retailers’ commitment to cut crime. The organisation has put forward recommendations, including prosecution of offenders rather than dealing with them out of court.

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