UK shops 'lose £3.29bn to theft'

UK retailers are now losing £3.29bn a year to crime

The UK's retailers are now losing £3.29bn a year to theft, the highest figure in Europe, a study has claimed.

That is the cost of the combined theft by customers, staff and suppliers in the 12 months to the end of June, said security group Checkpoint Systems.

It also found that UK retailers now spend £854m a year on security.

Germany was the next worst hit country in Europe, losing £3.19bn to retail crime. The survey spoke to 920 of the world's largest retailers.

Worldwide, the US and Japan has the highest levels of retail crime, with the UK in third place.

The drinks sector was the most affected in the UK over the last year, seeing theft levels rise 6.3%, with bottles of whisky, vodka and champagne being the most stolen items.