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Police suggestions that a recent rise in theft could be linked to the cost of living crisis might be oversimplifying the problem – with anti-social behaviour from young islanders, abuse of charitable donations and simple opportunism now a near-daily stressor for a number of local stores.
While the number of thefts reported in Jersey sharply fell during the covid lockdowns, the number is now on the rise once more – and shopkeepers have told Express that, for them, the problem is becoming harder and harder to manage.
In their annual report, which showed the number of "acquisitive crimes" (i.e. thefts) to be at 666 last year, Police said that the trend was "maybe partially attributed to cost of living issues".
Pictured: "Acquisitive" crimes, which includes theft from shops, has steadily climbed back up over the last four years after covid. (SoJP)
However, a number of local store managers and workers said that their experiences didn't necessarily suggest this was the case...
Zed Stott, manager of the Alliance branch in Sand Street, said he had noticed a rise in anti-social behaviour by young islanders in the area that was linked to the theft of cheap goods from the store.
He explained: "It's soft drinks, crisps and stuff like that – I've had a number of instances where, when we've caught them, I've insisted on getting the parents' contact details and dealing with it that way rather than criminalising the kids."
He added: "When we do try to apprehend these children, there's a lot of verbal abuse and when there's more than two or three of them it can get quite physically intimidating for the staff."
Store manager of the Alliance in Sand Street, Zed Stott, said there was a rise in theft linked to anti-social behaviour by young islanders.
Mr Stott said that the store often spoke to the community policing unit in town.
He added: "They have increased their patrols, which we are very grateful for – but we are still seeing a rise in instances where you have groups of young children stealing products.
"I'm not going to say that It's not linked to the cost of living, but I also think there is something else going on as well.
"The kids are becoming more brazen, more emboldened – particularly those under the age of 16 where I think the police's hands are tied to a certain extent."
A spokesperson for SandpiperCI, which operates a number of stores including the local M&S, said that no "significant" shoplifting increases had been noticed over the last year, but that: "Theft from shops is a problem for most high street retailers who take measures to tackle the issue."
But these days, it's not just high street retailers having to deal with shoplifting.
Acorn Reuse Manager Amanda Berry said theft was a "daily, ongoing issue".
Back in 2021, the Trinity-based charity shop even had to recruit an undercover store detective – but the issue has persisted.
Pictured: The Acorn charity store has dealt with a more noticeable frequency of shoplifting in the last year.
She continued: "We experience people swapping labels on things, taking new things out of boxes, going to changing rooms and walking out with multiple clothes on", adding that instances of shoplifting had become more noticeable in the last 12 months.
She also pointed out that "small-scale stuff is obviously easier to pocket", noting that the store now did manned stalls for some items such as jewellery.
However, Ms Berry said she did not think the rising theft was linked to the cost-of-living crisis.
"People are not stealing things that they need," she explained.
She also pointed out that the social enterprise, which provides employment and training for people with disabilities and long-term health conditions, would seek to help someone in a desperate position.
"Every time you steal from us, you are denying someone with a disability an opportunity," she added.
"It's very demoralising for the staff, who put their heart and soul into this place."
Staff at the Jersey Hospice charity shop in town also told Express that some islanders "chance their luck" with both label swapping and outright theft.
"There's people who are always going to do it anyway, there are people who steal because they sort of enjoy it and there are people who steal because they feel like they need to even before the cost of living," they added.
However, they acknowledged that the cost of living "could be a factor".
Have you had experience of shoplifting? What do you think might be behind the epidemic? Is there a better way to address the issue?
Email editor@bailiwickexpress.com with your thoughts.
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