Scotland is in the grip of a shoplifting epidemic with ‘soft-touch’ SNP ministers accused of failing to take action to tackle the problem.

Official recorded crime statistics show there were 53,369 thefts from shops detected north of the Border in 2025/26, or 146 every single day.

The number of cases has skyrocketed by 19 per cent compared to the previous year and nearly doubled in just a decade.

It led to claims that retail workers are being put at risk every day because of the inaction of SNP ministers, and that the soft-touch approach to justice is not proving an adequate deterrent.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Stephen Kerr said: ‘These shocking figures confirm the SNP are presiding over an epidemic of shoplifting cases across Scotland.

‘Retail workers are being put at risk every day and being left at the mercy of shoplifters who are often violent, because the SNP have monumentally failed to get on top of the spiralling number of offences.

‘Those have almost doubled over the last decade, but still SNP ministers are missing in action. The nationalists’ relentless weakening of Scotland’s justice system means criminals know they can get away with brazenly stealing from shops with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.

‘That is only compounded by the SNP’s savage cuts to frontline policing during their two decades in power. That means hardworking officers do not have the resources they need to catch those responsible and crack down on these crimes.’

He added: ‘These figures must be an urgent wake-up call for SNP ministers to finally deliver proper protection for retail workers and deliver proper punishments against shoplifters.’

The recorded crime in Scotland statistics for 2025/26 show 53,369 shoplifting crimes, which was 19 per cent higher than 44,730 the previous year and 86 per cent higher than 28,650 in 2016/17.

Scottish Labour also said the figures indicate that retail crime is ‘running riot’ in Scotland, and highlighted that this had happened despite the establishment of the Scottish Government’s retail crime taskforce in April 2025 to tackle the issue.

Pauline McNeill, Scottish Labour’s justice spokesman, said: ‘Retail crime is running riot in Scotland, putting workers at risk and leaving businesses out of pocket.

‘The Retail Crime Taskforce has a role to play, but these damning figures show it is no silver bullet.

‘The SNP must wake up to this growing crisis and deliver real action to protect shopworkers and tackle shoplifting. Too often police are stuck waiting around in court and A&E waiting rooms instead of being out in our communities.

‘We need a real plan to strengthen policing, support businesses and improve community safety.’

Earlier this year a Scottish Retail Consortium survey found that 19 per cent of shoppers had first-hand experience of seeing verbal or physical attacks on shop workers take place and that 18 per cent of shoppers had witnessed shoplifting taking place in the last 12 months.

Its deputy head, Ewan MacDonald-Russell said the ‘spiralling increase of violence and shop theft’ is causing misery for shopkeepers and customers and added: ‘We estimate the cost of shop theft was £50million in Scotland last year – an enormous burden. 

'That cost is paid for through higher prices and a worse shopping experience, which undermines the health and vitality of our high streets.’

Community safety minister Kirsten Oswald said: ‘Retail crime causes significant disruption and we are concerned by the recent rise in this crime as other areas of crime falls.

‘That is why we have provided an additional £3million a year to Police Scotland to establish and maintain the Retail Crime Taskforce.

Through its four-strand approach – prevent, pursue, protect and prepare – the taskforce is delivering real results, targeting repeat offenders using data and intelligence to drive proactive enforcement in the most affected areas.

‘In its first year, it has resulted in over 6,400 charges, with the detection rate rising to just under 51 per cent.

‘I abhor any violence against shop workers and we support police and prosecutors to use our laws to hold those responsible to account. 

'I encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses retail crime or violence to report it to Police Scotland.’