Organised criminal gangs “stealing to order” have contributed to a surge in shoplifting across Greater Manchester, politicians and police have said.
There were 21,890 cases of shoplifting recorded by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in 2024 – a 20.1% increase on the previous year.
Deborah Turner, who was targeted by shoplifters at her store in Ashton-under-Lyne, said: “You feel gutted because its profit gone out of the door.”
GMP said it was “working with shopping centres and using our own technology to bring shoplifters to justice”.
