Iceland Foods has announced a new initiative aimed at curbing the rise in shoplifting by offering customers financial rewards for reporting theft. The company is losing millions in theft. To counter this, they’ll give a £1 store credit on customers’ Bonus Cards for informing staff of any live shoplifting attempts. Annual shoplifting rates have skyrocketed throughout England and Wales. In turn, the retailer is looking for a community Partner to help them address this problem.
In a recent interview, Richard Walker, Iceland’s executive chairman, called shoplifting the biggest financial burden the company is facing. He said that the company suffers an average of £20 million per year in losses from theft. Today this figure has grown to be overwhelmingly burdensome, making Iceland unable to lower prices as well as reinvest in higher wages for employees. With these challenges in mind, Walker put a fine point on the need for customer engagement in stopping this crime.
The increase in shoplifting has been particularly pronounced, with a 20% increase in offences on record across England and Wales. After years of steady declines, last year, incidents of shoplifting jumped to 537,000. This unbelievable number is the highest in recorded history dating back to 2002-03. This uptick is especially striking when considered alongside the 444,022 crashes recorded in the preceding year.
Walker expressed his concerns regarding the perception of shoplifting as a “victimless crime,” stating, “Some people see this as a victimless crime, it is not. It’s a cost to the business, to the hours we pay our colleagues, and it involves intimidation and violence.” He urged customers to help him bring down costs — including by witnessing theft in real time and alerting the company right away.
Alongside Iceland’s incentive program, the government has promised to improve neighborhood policing. Authorities are pledging to have thousands of additional officers patrolling the system by spring 2026. As they say, their priorities are preventing crime and making safer shopping environments.
Iceland’s citizenship rewards program fosters deep civic engagement. Along with a larger police presence, this type of crackdown would greatly improve shoplifting norms, benefiting retailers and consumers alike.