The Inquiry What's behind the rise in shoplifting?
Jan 27, 2026
Guest
Nicole Bögelein
Guest
Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss
Guest
Tony Sheppard
Guest
Christopher Hamlin
Christopher Hamlin, VP of Asset Protection who works with surveillance, RFID and AI tools. Tony Sheppard, VP of Retail Risk Solutions experienced in investigations and organised crime supply chains. Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss, national retail crime lead focusing on policing and intelligence operations. Dr Nicole Bögelein, sociologist studying motives, social norms and trends. They discuss motives, organised theft, online resale, policing and tech responses.
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Episode notes
Multiple Motives Beyond Poverty
- Nicole Bögelein says shoplifting motives include material need, thrill-seeking and peer pressure, not just poverty.
- She argues self-checkouts and reduced human contact have made opportunistic theft easier for ordinary customers.
Organised Gang Roles Explained
- Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss describes organised gangs with pickers, basket carriers and lookouts targeting specific stores.
- He recounts a gang causing estimated losses of £1.5–2 million across multiple retailers before arrests and deportations.
From Handcuffs To Letting Go
- Tony Sheppard recalls being a store detective who used to detain shoplifters and even use handcuffs decades ago.
- He contrasts that with modern practice where retailers avoid apprehension and many offences draw minimal police response.