‘Storming’ Shoplifting Trend Alarms UK Supermarkets: Security Experts Warn of Rising Violence
A dangerous and aggressive shoplifting trend known as ‘storming’ is rapidly spreading across major UK supermarket chains, including Aldi, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, and Asda. Security professionals are issuing urgent warnings to shoppers and retail staff about the escalating risks associated with this brazen criminal behavior.
Shoplifting Reaches Record Highs in England and Wales
Official statistics reveal that shoplifting offences have surged to unprecedented levels, with 519,000 incidents recorded in the year leading up to September 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics. Retailers argue that these figures still significantly underestimate the true scale of the problem, indicating a widespread crisis in the retail sector.
Kevin Burton, Regional Service Director at Kingdom Security, a firm specializing in combating shop-related crime, highlighted the dual nature of the issue. “We are dealing with people stealing out of necessity, if they can’t afford food, and they usually only take what they need,” he explained. “However, we are also witnessing a worrying rise in ‘storming’ from more professional and brazen shoplifters.”
What Is ‘Storming’ and Why Is It So Dangerous?
The term ‘storming’ refers to a particularly bold and violent form of shoplifting where perpetrators operate in groups of two or more. These individuals aggressively enter stores, swiftly grabbing high-value items such as spirits and laundry detergent, often emptying entire aisles in the process.
This trend poses severe safety threats, as Kevin Burton emphasized: “Shoplifting is becoming more and more brazen, which is a concern for the safety of shop staff, shoppers, and security personnel. If people are willing to steal without any pretence, what else are they willing to do?”
He further detailed the violent tactics employed: “The shoplifters storming into supermarkets are not just stealing; they are threatening staff with knives, verbally abusing people, and acting very aggressively overall. Shoplifting is no longer a victimless crime—if it ever was.”
Security Measures and Public Safety Concerns
Security staff are tasked with protecting both employees and customers while attempting to recover stolen goods. However, the prevalence of weapons complicates these efforts. “There is a good chance that many perpetrators are carrying knives, and in that case, the safety of everyone needs to come first,” Burton cautioned.
Despite these challenges, advanced security technologies and vigilant guarding practices offer some recourse. “Luckily, security guarding and advanced technology means we can identify repeat offenders and work to keep the public safe while continuing to deter would-be shoplifters,” he noted.
Addressing the root causes remains difficult, especially with aggressive offenders. “We try to ask people who are caught stealing why they are stealing and educate them on the impact on supermarkets, shop workers, security, and themselves. But with storming, it is harder to communicate, as they are often aggressive to staff,” Burton concluded.
