Supermarket chain Iceland will financially reward customers who report shoplifting incidents as part of the efforts to deal with rising levels of retaliation.
The firm’s executive chairman, Richard Walker, said that the shopkeepers who consume the employees for the theft in progress will receive a £ 1 credit on their Iceland bonus card.
The company estimates that shoplifting costs its business every year around £ 20m.
Mr. Walker said that this figure not only affects the company’s lower line, but also limits prices and reinstatement of employees in wages.
Iceland told the BBC that shoplifters do not need to be necessary for customers to receive £ 1 reward, but would need to report and verify them.
“We are encouraged to help our loyal customers to help in alarm sound, and if they help catch a shopkeeper, we will up their bonus cards to spend in the store,” Mr. Walker said in a statement.
He first announced on Thursday on Channel 5 News.
He said, “Some people see it as a aggrieved crime, this is not. It is a cost for business, for hours paying our colleagues, and it includes intimidation and violence,” he said.
He said that encouraging customers to participate in the prevention of crime may potentially help reduce prices in shops.
“We want customers to help the shopkeepers to reduce their prices even further,” said Mr. Walker.
Iceland said that the customers do not want to interact directly with any shopkeepers, but suggests that they find the nearest member of the employees and warns them with a detailed description of the suspected shopkeeper.
The announcement was made amidst an increase in shopkeeping throughout England and Wales.
According to national statistics for the office, the police registered 530,643 shopkeepers crimes in the year from March 2025.
This is an increase of 444,022 to 20% in the previous year, and The highest figure begins since the current recording practices In 2002-03.
In response to rising concerns, the government has promised to increase the policing of the neighborhood, which promises thousands of more officials on patrols by 2026.
