The UK’s top 500 retail crime offenders have been linked to more than 22,000 retail crime events, says new data from retail crime intelligence platform, Auror.

Its data showed that each of the top 500 most prolific offenders are linked to more than 27 recorded events by retailers across the country, while the top 140 offenders are each linked to more than 50 incidents.

Auror said the most frequently targeted products by prolific offenders were those typically targeted by organised crime groups, and included alcohol (notably champagne), confectionery, high-value meat and skincare.

It also found that repeat offenders are up to four times more likely to be violent, with 70% of the top 500 criminals having been violent towards colleagues and customers.

“These top offenders are overwhelmingly violent and organised,” said Mark Gleeson, GM UK & Europe at Auror. “They offend across brands, are connected with other associates to carry out their offending, and target products that carry high resale value.”

Responding to risk

Gleeson said that retailers were fighting back with more unified data reporting on crimes, adding: “Through structured crime reporting in Auror, retailers have surfaced the top 500 offenders impacting their stores, allowing them to better respond to risk and make more informed security decisions.”

Earlier this year, Asda took further steps to tackle retail crime, rolling out Auror’s crime reporting and intelligence platform across its UK store estate. This followed a 30-store trial in London, which saw a 55% increase in prevention rates and helped recover £100k worth of goods that would otherwise have been stolen.

“By working more closely with police and retailers through a shared intelligence network, we can focus our efforts where they will have the greatest impact,” Asda’s Chief Operating Officer, David Lepley, commented.

Currys also deployed Auror across all its UK&I stores to enhance store safety after a 12-week trial identified 10 repeat offenders, resulting in 3 arrests, whilst preventing stock losses equating to £20k worth of product.

Retail unites to fight crime

The figures showing the impact of repeat retail crime offenders from Auror come as the Retail Trust launches its Let’s Respect Retail campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the abuse store colleagues face in the busy festive trading period, and encourages shoppers to show their support through small acts of kindness.

New research for the Retail Trust’s Let’s Respect Retail campaign found 79% of shop workers have faced an abusive or violent situation in the past year compared to 77% in 2025, and more than half (54%) are now targeted weekly, up from 43% last year (+11 percentage points) and 33% in 2024 (+21 percentage points).

“Our country’s shop workers have had enough of being threatened and treated with contempt,” Chris Brook-Carter, Chief Executive of the Retail Trust, said. “There has been a disturbing shift over the last few years… [and] this is damaging people’s confidence, destroying morale and driving good people out of a sector they once loved.”

“Most people do the right thing, but when a minority don’t, the rest of us have a role to play in making sure shop workers still feel seen and valued,” he added.