UK shops ‘buying stolen goods from professional shoplifters’

Retailers report high volume' of thefts and then seeing items for sale locally or on Facebook or WhatsApp

Shops across the UK are buying stolen goods from professional shoplifters who thieve to order for criminal gangs to feed their addiction problems, retail groups have said.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said its members were reporting high volume" and very brazen and direct" incidents of shoplifting, with meat, cheese and alcohol items typically targeted.