A woman casually walks into a convenience store and begins filling a bread crate with goods from one of the aisles.
A store clerk tries to stop her, but she fearlessly shrugs him off. Now that the crate is full of stuff, she leaves without paying.
It’s a scenario that is playing out day in and day out across Britain, as retailers warn that the wave of shoplifting has now “spiraled out of control”.
Four in five shop owners tell Sky News they have experienced shoplifting in the past week.
I’m sitting in the security office of a busy city center shop and watch as a schoolboy comes in and grabs himself a sandwich and puts it in his jacket.
Shop assistant Anton Mavroianu watches with me, who stands at the main entrance and waits for the boy to leave.
When the boy does leave, Anton demands the item back. Instead of being frozen in fear of being caught, the boy laughs and walks away.
“All we can do is try to stop them,” Anton tells me. “But this is just another day for us.”
Anton Mavroianu said he was threatened with a knife when he tried to stop shoplifters
When Anton tried to stop a shoplifter who had stolen from the store a few weeks earlier, the man pulled out a knife and tried to attack him.
This terrifying incident is an example of the very real threat posed by store staff as they try to stem the tide of brazen thefts.
The number of shoplifting incidents recorded by police in England and Wales has risen to its highest level in 20 years.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) also reports that theft-related losses are costing the retail sector millions every year, increasing pressure on a sector already struggling with post-pandemic recovery and economic uncertainty.
For small businesses, which lack the resources of larger chains, persistent theft can jeopardize their survival.
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Ricky Dougall owns a supermarket chain and says shoplifting cost his business around £100,000 last year.
“Shoplifting is a huge problem and it’s what’s holding us back from growing the business.
“People come in and help themselves as if they own the property, and when you call the police they usually don’t show up.”
Ricky Dougall said part of the problem is how shoplifting is classified during sentencing
Mr Dougall says part of the problem lies in the way this is done crime is classified.
Sentencing guidelines for thefts of less than £200, so-called ‘low-level shoplifting’, were relaxed in 2016. This is attributed to the increase in cases.
An exclusive survey by Sky News and the Association of Convenience Stores shows that 80% of retailers surveyed have experienced retail crime in the past week.
The poll also shows that 94% of retailers say shoplifting has worsened in their experience over the past year, with 83% not confident that police will take action against perpetrators of retail crime on their premises.
Paul Cheema of the Association of Convenience Stores says retailers need the government’s support.
“I would say officials don’t say anything about us retailers,” he tells me. “The losses are too great and I don’t think we can continue with that anymore.
“I would call on Keir Starmer to come and meet us and take a closer look at the challenges we face.”
Retailers have responded by investing heavily in security measures, from advanced surveillance systems to hiring more security staff.
But these investments come at a cost, which is often passed on to consumers through higher prices.
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I have a chat with Matt Roberts, head of retail at the store I’m in. He’s concerned about shoplifting, but he’s more concerned about the staff.
‘I can imagine that they are afraid to go to work, because they always wonder if something is going to happen today, or if they will have to confront someone.
“It’s a terrible feeling. It’s out of control and we need help.”
Matt Roberts says he’s worried about his staff dealing with shoplifters
The government has recognized the urgency of the issue. Discussions are underway with retail associations and law enforcement officials, led by the Home Minister, to devise a comprehensive strategy.
In the King’s speech, the government outlined details of a crime and policing bill, which promised to “introduce stronger measures to tackle low-level shoplifting”, and create a separate offense for assaulting a shop worker.