The latest episode of Bira’s High Street Matters podcast takes a look into the psychology of shop theft, exploring why criminals target independent retailers and revealing the complex network behind what many wrongly dismiss as a victimless crime.

In this episode, journalist Steve Dyson interviews Professor Emmeline Taylor, one of Britain’s leading retail crime experts from City St George’s University of London, alongside Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre, to understand the mindset behind retail crime.

“We need to move beyond the term ‘shoplifting,’ as it no longer represents the scale and severity of the crime we’re seeing,” says Professor Emmeline Taylor. “We’re dealing with three distinct groups: opportunists, drug-affected persistent offenders, and organised criminal gangs who’ve identified retail as a high-reward, low-risk target.”

Professor Taylor reveals shocking insights into criminal motivations, including one ex-offender who needed to steal £1,500 worth of stock daily just to fund their addiction. “When you translate that figure across the country, the level of stock being stolen is shocking.”

Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre emphasises how criminal behaviour has evolved.

“What used to be concentrated in groceries, alcohol and cigarettes has expanded,” he says. “Everything is now a target. These aren’t opportunistic thieves, these are calculated criminals. For independent retailers, this isn’t just about lost stock – it’s their savings being stolen. The mental damage and stress are overwhelming our shopkeepers.”

This thought-provoking episode provides crucial insights into criminal psychology and behaviour, highlighting the need for a coordinated response to what has become a national crisis.

The ‘High Street Matters’ podcast series, which is available on all major streaming platforms, continues to explore crucial subjects impacting independent retailers, covering various topics relevant to today’s retail landscape. For further information on Bira, please click here.