Soaring incidents of shoplifting across Scotland cost £69m last year as shock survey reveals nine out of 10 stores suffered violent events every week.

 Shopkeepers are calling for urgent action on soaring incidents of shoplifting across Scotland as new figures reveal a worse start to the year than the already record levels of theft reported in 2023.

The unprecedented crime wave cost the country’s more than 5,000 convenience stores a staggering £62.9 ­million last year – an average of £12,164 per outlet.

Now, Stirling-based ­organisation Retailers Against Crime (RAC) – which represents 1,500 businesses – is reporting that shop owners experienced a horrendous past three months, with losses to theft among its members alone already up by 25% and now ­topping £160,000 a month. Read more here