I don’t need to shoplift — but why should a supermarket get all my money?

The number of shoplifting offences is on the rise (Picture: Metro/ Getty)

‘Once you know you can get away with it, it’s hard to start paying full price for everything again,’  says Matilda*, a 26-year-old who lives in London. 

Matilda has been shoplifting since she was a teenager. ‘The first thing I stole was a thong from Primark,’ she tells Metro. ‘I would just take little things.’

A decade later, and she’s yet to kick the habit – not that she wants to. Not only does Matilda get a ‘thrill’ out of taking things, but she thinks it’s ‘justified’ too. 

‘I can definitely afford my food shop without shoplifting,’ she says. ‘But prices have gone crazy. I just feel like, why should I have to pay that price when big supermarkets are making the profits?’

New data from the Office for National Statistics shows that the number of shoplifting offences in England and Wales rose by 20% last year.

A total of 516,971 offences were recorded, compared to 429,873 in 2023. In London alone, offences rose from 58,000 to nearly 90,000 in 2024.

But statistics only tell part of the story. Many casual kleptos are flying under the radar, and a lot of them are women. 

‘I get things that are on the display aisles or are really easy to pocket’ (Picture: Getty Images)

According to a Gov.uk report published in January, theft from shops was the most common indictable offence for female defendants in 2023. It accounted for 27% of all female prosecutions for indictable crimes, compared to just 12% for men. 

Imogen*, a 25-year-old therapist who lives in Sheffield, started shoplifting when she was still at school. Her first target was the local corner shop. 

‘I think it was because friends did it occasionally,’ she tells Metro. ‘It was honestly just a bit of fun. I’d pay for most of my things but just steal one or two small things, like chewing gum and chocolate.’

Imogen doesn’t steal from small shops anymore. Instead, she’s turned her attention to bigger stores such as Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s, where she feels less likely to get caught. 

‘During Easter, when they have those little eggs in store, I’ll always steal a little Lindor egg every time I go to the shop because I can. They’re really easy, and it just doesn’t feel like a big deal.’

Like Imogen, Matilda will also go for small and easy-to-pocket items. ‘I’ll take things that are quite small and will go in my bag. Like cheese or halloumi or toothpaste. Just things that are quite small but kind of expensive,’ she says.

‘I like to give myself three for two deals. I’ll pay for two things and steal one.’

Matilda never steals from small businesses. Her main targets are big supermarkets. On average, she says she steals from them nine times out of 10 when she visits.

‘The most expensive thing I’ve stolen is probably a pack of salmon or an expensive face wash, like a £20 face wash from Superdrug.’

Imogen will also occasionally steal more luxury items. ‘I’ve stolen haircare products like oils because they’re stupidly expensive and I want them. It’s the sort of thing I wouldn’t get otherwise,’ she says.

‘Like this is a luxury item that I’m not going to be able to justify buying myself, but I can take it.’

Why do we feel a ‘thrill’ from shoplifting?

Some people, like Imogen and Matilda, start shoplifting simply because they can – and as consultant psychologist, Dr Elena Touroni, explains, over time, it will becoming an all-too tempting habit,

‘When someone shoplifts, the brain releases dopamine – a feel-good chemical linked to pleasure and reward,’ Dr Elena explains. ‘This reinforces the behaviour, making it more tempting to repeat.’

But Dr Elena also points out that the reasons for shoplifting may be deeper than this.

She explains: ‘It might stem from financial difficulty, but it’s often tied to emotional drivers like stress, loneliness, trauma, or a need for validation.

‘Sometimes, it can be a way of coping with deeper feelings of emptiness, low self-worth or a need for a thrill in an otherwise low-energy life.’

Some people can get addicted to this thrill. ‘For some, it provides a rush of adrenaline or sense of control that they might not experience elsewhere in their lives,’ says Dr Elena, who is also the co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic. 

‘Over time, the brain starts to link stealing with short-term relief or excitement, making it a behaviour people can rely on when dealing with emotional discomfort.’

Dr Elena notes that social expectations may play a role in why some women in particular turn to shoplifting. 

She says: ‘Social pressures placed on women – to present a certain image, to manage emotional burdens quietly, to live up to unrealistic expectations – can create deep undercurrents of stress and low self-esteem. 

‘Shoplifting may, for some, offer a rare moment of rebellion or a secret way to reclaim a sense of agency in a world that often feels controlling.’

Finally, Dr Elena says it’s important to see chronic shoplifting ‘not just as a legal issue, but a mental health one’.

She adds: ‘Support, therapy and compassionate understanding can make a huge difference – helping people break the cycle and find healthier ways to manage whatever underlying pain or pressure they may be carrying.’

Names have been changed in this article.

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