Almost a million Britons consider shoplifting this Christmas

According to research by G4S Security Services, 2.6 million British adults aged 16-64 admit shoplifting in the last 12 months - up 30% on the previous 12 months

The research claims almost a million Britons are considering shoplifting presents to give to friends or family this festive season as a result of the credit crunch and the rapid increase in the cost of living since the start of the year.

The Fifth Annual Retail Crime Survey says that 2.6 million British adults aged 16-64 admitted to shoplifting over the last 12 months - a 30 per cent increase on the previous 12 months. Cumulatively that represents stolen merchandise valued at over £783 million (2007: £747million).

Around 36,000 British adults each steal over £25,000 of goods from British stores annually - often career criminals who steal-to-order specific items which are then resold on the black market.

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