Shoplifting increased in Avon and Somerset as the cost-of-living crisis ramped up, figures suggest – though police-recorded thefts remain below pre-pandemic figures.

Much of 2022 has been dominated by surging inflation, rising food prices and soaring energy bills, which have left many households across the UK reassessing how they are going to pay the bills.

An issue that was already bubbling away last year as the price of goods started outstripping wage growth, the cost-of-living crisis was exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, which escalated food and energy prices across the globe.

Reports suggested the rising cost of living could lead to higher levels of shoplifting as pay packets are spread more thinly.

And figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request by RADAR reveal Avon and Somerset Constabulary recorded 4,223 shoplifting offences between April 1 and August 31 this year.

Although that was a rise of ​42.4% compared to the 2,965 logged during the same period last year, the force recorded 4,504 thefts from shops over the five-month period in 2019 – 281 more.

Police forces were asked to provide the number of shoplifting offences recorded between the start of April and end of August, as well as the outcomes of such crimes.

Across England and Wales, 109,534 shoplifting offences were reported to the 38 police forces which responded to the FOI request – 22% more than last year, but a drop of 17.9% compared to 2019.

Between April and August, 369 (8.7%) shoplifting crimes resulted in a charge or summons in Avon and Somerset, meaning a significant proportion led to no suspect being charged – though ​307 had not been assigned an outcome at the time of the request.

In response to rising wholesale gas prices, Ofgem raised the energy price cap for the typical UK household by more than 50% on April 1, before putting it up again at the start of October.

Some major supermarkets reported that they were boosting security due to fears of an increase in shoplifting as household bills rose.

Sabine Goodwin, coordinator of the Independent Food Aid Network, which comprises independent food banks across the UK, said people are becoming "more and more desperate" as the cost-of-living crisis exacerbates pre-existing poverty in Britain.

"People are being faced with impossible choices as food insecurity spirals out of control," she said.

"The solution is for the Government to ensure there are direct one-off payments through this winter as well as the adequacy of social security payments and wages."

But the British Retail Consortium, which represents retailers in the UK including big-name food stores, said shoplifting remains a "significant" burden, costing retailers £663 million in 2020-21.

Tom Ironside, BRC director of business and regulation, said police-recorded crimes do not represent the whole picture as some staff are reluctant to report incidents due to "a lack of police response".

"It’s not just the financial cost of theft which is important, customers and store staff can be left traumatised by such incidents, particularly where violence is involved," he added.

The National Police Chiefs' Council said shoplifting is the "single biggest threat" to shop worker safety, as well as being a daily problem for retailers.

Assistant Commissioner Paul Betts, NPPC lead for business crime, said: "We are conscious of concerns from business about the potential for increased shoplifting due to the cost-of-living crisis and recognise the important role that policing plays in tackling offenders and supporting retailers in reducing the number of offences committed and in keeping their staff safe."