Special Report: Retail crime on the rise?
It has been a summer of crime for many businesses across Northern Ireland, with several armed robberies and attempted thefts at stores and ATMs in the region, leaving retailers here under increasing stress.
The significant rise in retail crime over the last month is giving cause for concern for retailers right across the region.
The second half of July in particular saw a spate of incidents, including armed robberies and thefts and attempted thefts of ATMs across Northern Ireland, leaving retailers wondering how they can secure their premises and staff against attacks.
Indeed, recent statistics from the ONS show shoplifting offences rose by 20% in the year ending March 2025.
Retail crime across the region is an issue NR has focused on in the past, with retailers and police alike highlighting the severity of the situation. And while retail crime in Northern Ireland is not as bad as in other parts of the UK, the impact of crime and its after-effects cannot be underestimated.
It was also announced in recent weeks that shopworkers across Ards and North Down are to start wearing bodycams in a bid to crack down on retail crime and anti-social behaviour. Businesses in Bangor, Holywood, Newtownards, Comber and Donaghadee have come together in support of a new initiative as retailers here become increasingly frustrated with rising crime rates.
In the wake of these recent incidents, the PSNI has confirmed it has increased its visibility patrols in high-risk areas to deter offenders and provide reassurance to retail staff and store owners.
Three armed robberies from commercial premises occurred in south Belfast within 24 hours at the end of July, all believed to have been carried out by the same individual.
Between 8.40pm and 8.50pm on Wednesday 30th July a man entered an off licence in the Sunnyside Street area and demanded staff hand over money from the till before threatening them with a knife.
He then made off with a sum of cash in a small brown paper bag and headed in the direction of Haywood Avenue. He was described as being about 6ft tall and medium build, wearing a blue Adidas hoodie, black tracksuit bottoms and black and white trainers, along with sunglasses and black gloves.
Then on Thursday 31st July police received a report of a second armed robbery at around 1pm when a man entered an off licence in the Stranmillis Road area.
Having entered the store at approximately 12.45pm, staff were similarly threatened with a knife, and the man demanded cash before making off in the direction of Stranmillis Park.
Finally, a report of a third armed robbery on Thursday 31st July saw another off licence targeted, this time in the Ormeau Road area. A man entered the store and threatened staff with a knife, demanding they hand over the contents of the till.
“We believe this is the same individual involved with the previous two robberies, who is described as being 5ft 10” to 6ft tall, of medium build and approximately 40 years old,” said Detective Sergeant Leeman.
“He was wearing light grey tracksuit bottoms and a grey fleece, along with a navy beanie hat, a white t-shirt or bandana used as a mask and black gloves. He also wore khaki-coloured trainers and carried a white plastic bag.”
ATMs have again been targeted in areas across Northern Ireland, with the attempted theft of one at a business in Clough on Friday 1st August.
A number of makes wearing dark clothing and masks were seen in the area between 1.30am and 4am.
These incidents follow swiftly on the back of an attempted ATM theft in Newtownabbey, the theft from an ATM at a shop in Jonesborough, County Armagh and two armed robberies in east Belfast, when cash and tobacco products taken in one incident and cash stolen from the till in another.
Staff were left shaken when threatened with a knife but thankfully were not physically injured.
Inspector Pete Cunningham from the PSNI’s Business Crime Team told NR they were committed to tackling offences against businesses through a combination of prevention, enforcement and partnership working.
“We are committed to working with retailers, trade bodies, other government bodies, and local communities to tackle shoplifting and assaults,” he told NR.
“The Police Service of Northern Ireland has increased visibility patrols in high-risk retail areas to deter offenders and provide reassurance to staff, using intelligence-led policing to identify repeat offenders and organised shoplifting gangs, working closely with retail security teams.”
Inspector Cunningham reiterated their calls for businesses to report all incidents and invest in evidence-based crime prevention measures.
