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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Iceland supermarket offering shoppers £1 reward for reporting shoplifters
The supermarket chain has announced a new scheme to try and stamp out the growing shoplifting crisis that has swept across the country amidst highest levels of theft in two decades Supermarket chain Iceland has rolled out a new scheme seeing people rewarded for reporting shoplifters. In a bid to tackle rising levels of theft, the firm will see shoppers rewarded for information that might see shoplifters apprehended for their crimes. The supermarket is estimated to have lost around £20m each year as a result of shoplifting, with those reporting theft set to see £1 credit added to their Iceland Bonus Card. It also reports that shoplifters do not necessarily need to be caught, as long as the information is reported and verified, customers will see the reward added to their Bonus Card. It comes after a high street chain launches 70% off closing down sales as 25 shops set to shut. Iceland executive chairman, Richard Walker, said in a statement: "We're encouraging our loyal customers to help sound the alarm, and if they do help to catch a shoplifter, we'll top up their Bonus Card to spend in store." It comes after announcing the initiative on Thursday on Channel 5 News on Thursday. Mr Walker, executive chairman of Iceland, told Channel Five news that shoplifting is not a 'victimless crime'. He said: 'I'd like to announce that we will give £1 to any customer who points out a shoplifter. 'We'll put it on their bonus card, if they see any customers in our stores who is undertaking that offence. Some people see this as a victimless crime; it is not. 'It also keeps prices from being lowered because it is a cost to the business. It's a cost to the hours we pay our colleagues, as well as it being about intimidation and violence.' The crackdown on theft comes after official figures released last month revealed that the number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales climbed to another record high. Some 530,643 offences were logged in the year to March 2025, up 20% from 444,022 in 2023-24 and the highest total since current police recording practices began in 2002-03. At the time, retail bosses warned that shop theft was spiralling out of control and that business owners need to see immediate results as ministers have pledged thousands more officers for neighbourhood policing by next spring. Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said the recorded figures show more crimes are being reported, but this is still 'far too low', with many retailers having 'no faith' in incidents being investigated. Katy Bourne, the national lead for shoplifting at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said more robust police interventions and 'meaningful criminal justice measures' are needed to prevent reoffending. Writing in the Telegraph on Saturday, the police and crime commissioner for Sussex said: 'What on earth has happened to our high streets and our city centres? Why do some people feel they can rob shops with impunity and abuse and assault staff without any fear of retribution?' "There must be rehabilitation for some offenders as well as 'significant alternatives to our overcrowded prisons', she said.
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Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Iceland offers customers £1 reward for reporting shoplifters
Spot a thief while you shop and earn rewards 💷 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Iceland will pay shoppers £1 for reporting shoplifters, credited to their bonus card The supermarket loses around £20 million annually to theft, affecting prices and staff pay Richard Walker says shoplifting is not a 'victimless crime' and impacts store safety Police figures show shoplifting in England and Wales reached a record high in 2025 The scheme aims to engage customers in reducing theft and keeping shopping affordable Shoppers could soon be earning financial rewards simply by keeping an eye out for shoplifters, as a major supermarket chain launches a new initiative to tackle rising theft in its stores. Iceland has announced it will pay customers £1 for every shoplifter they spot and report to staff, with payments added directly to their Iceland bonus card. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The move comes as shoplifting costs Iceland an estimated £20 million each year, a figure the company says affects its ability to lower prices and reward employees. Richard Walker, Iceland's executive chairman, emphasised that theft is far from a 'victimless crime'. 'It's not just about lost stock,' Walker told Channel Five news. 'Shoplifting affects the hours we can pay our colleagues, it contributes to intimidation in our stores, and ultimately it keeps prices higher for everyone.' The scheme comes against the backdrop of a wider surge in retail crime. Walker said that by involving shoppers, Iceland hopes to reduce these losses while keeping prices down. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We'd like customers to help us lower our prices even more by pointing out shoplifters,' he added. Official figures show that shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales reached a record 530,643 in the year to March 2025, up 20% from 444,022 the previous year, the highest total since records began in 2002-03. Retail leaders have warned that the rise in theft is putting pressure on businesses and local communities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, said that while more crimes are being reported, many retailers still feel incidents are not adequately investigated, leaving shops vulnerable. For Iceland, the new rewards programme is as much about engaging customers as it is about preventing theft. By turning shoppers into 'extra eyes' on the shop floor, the supermarket hopes to create safer, more affordable shopping experiences for everyone. While £1 per tip might seem small, Iceland stresses that even minor contributions from customers could add up to significant savings across its stores, helping to offset the £20 million annual cost of theft. Are you struggling to make ends meet as costs continue to rise? You can now send your stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
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Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Iceland offers customers £1 reward for reporting shoplifters
Spot a thief while you shop and earn rewards 💷 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Iceland will pay shoppers £1 for reporting shoplifters, credited to their bonus card The supermarket loses around £20 million annually to theft, affecting prices and staff pay Richard Walker says shoplifting is not a 'victimless crime' and impacts store safety Police figures show shoplifting in England and Wales reached a record high in 2025 The scheme aims to engage customers in reducing theft and keeping shopping affordable Shoppers could soon be earning financial rewards simply by keeping an eye out for shoplifters, as a major supermarket chain launches a new initiative to tackle rising theft in its stores. Iceland has announced it will pay customers £1 for every shoplifter they spot and report to staff, with payments added directly to their Iceland bonus card. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The move comes as shoplifting costs Iceland an estimated £20 million each year, a figure the company says affects its ability to lower prices and reward employees. Richard Walker, Iceland's executive chairman, emphasised that theft is far from a 'victimless crime'. 'It's not just about lost stock,' Walker told Channel Five news. 'Shoplifting affects the hours we can pay our colleagues, it contributes to intimidation in our stores, and ultimately it keeps prices higher for everyone.' The scheme comes against the backdrop of a wider surge in retail crime. Walker said that by involving shoppers, Iceland hopes to reduce these losses while keeping prices down. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We'd like customers to help us lower our prices even more by pointing out shoplifters,' he added. Official figures show that shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales reached a record 530,643 in the year to March 2025, up 20% from 444,022 the previous year, the highest total since records began in 2002-03. Retail leaders have warned that the rise in theft is putting pressure on businesses and local communities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, said that while more crimes are being reported, many retailers still feel incidents are not adequately investigated, leaving shops vulnerable. For Iceland, the new rewards programme is as much about engaging customers as it is about preventing theft. By turning shoppers into 'extra eyes' on the shop floor, the supermarket hopes to create safer, more affordable shopping experiences for everyone. While £1 per tip might seem small, Iceland stresses that even minor contributions from customers could add up to significant savings across its stores, helping to offset the £20 million annual cost of theft.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Supermarket giant says it will pay customers to report shoplifters
Supermarket chain Iceland is set to offer customers a £1 reward for actively spotting and reporting shoplifters in their stores. Richard Walker, the retailer's executive chairman, confirmed that shoppers who alert staff to offenders will receive the payment directly to their membership card. The move comes as the business faces an estimated £20 million annual hit from the cost of shoplifting. He added the £20 million cost of theft limits the amount that the company can pay back out to its colleague and restrains its ability to lower prices. Mr Walker told Channel Five news that shoplifting is not a "victimless crime". 'I'd like to announce that we will give £1 to any customer who points out a shoplifter. 'We'll put it on their bonus card, if they see any customers in our stores who is undertaking that offence. 'Some people see this as a victimless crime; it is not. 'It also keeps prices from being lowered because it is a cost to the business. 'It's a cost to the hours we pay our colleagues, as well as it being about intimidation and violence.' 'We'd like customers to help us lower our prices even more by pointing out shoplifters,' Mr Walker added. Last month, official figures revealed that the number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales climbed to another record high. Some 530,643 offences were logged in the year to March 2025, up 20% from 444,022 in 2023-24 and the highest total since current police recording practices began in 2002-03. At the time, retail bosses warned that shop theft was spiralling out of control and that business owners need to see immediate results as ministers have pledged thousands more officers for neighbourhood policing by next spring. Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said the recorded figures show more crimes are being reported, but this is still 'far too low', with many retailers having 'no faith' in incidents being investigated.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Iceland to offer customers £1 reward for reporting shoplifters
Supermarket chain Iceland is to offer customers a £1 reward if they spot shoplifters in the act. The retailer's boss, Richard Walker, said any shoppers who point out offenders to members of staff will receive a payment to their membership card. Iceland said the business faces a roughly £20 million hit from the cost of shoplifting each year. Mr Walker, executive chairman of Iceland, told Channel Five news that shoplifting is not a 'victimless crime'. 'I'd like to announce that we will give £1 to any customer who points out a shoplifter. 'We'll put it on their bonus card, if they see any customers in our stores who is undertaking that offence. 'Some people see this as a victimless crime; it is not. 'It also keeps prices from being lowered because it is a cost to the business. 'It's a cost to the hours we pay our colleagues, as well as it being about intimidation and violence.' He said the £20 million cost of theft limits the amount that the company can pay back out to its colleague and restrains its ability to lower prices. 'We'd like customers to help us lower our prices even more by pointing out shoplifters,' Mr Walker added. Last month, official figures revealed that the number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales climbed to another record high. Some 530,643 offences were logged in the year to March 2025, up 20% from 444,022 in 2023-24 and the highest total since current police recording practices began in 2002-03. At the time, retail bosses warned that shop theft was spiralling out of control and that business owners need to see immediate results as ministers have pledged thousands more officers for neighbourhood policing by next spring. Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said the recorded figures show more crimes are being reported, but this is still 'far too low', with many retailers having 'no faith' in incidents being investigated.
