Tuesday, May 27, 2014

The Poor Turning To Theft

Poverty-stricken residents of Leeds are turning to shoplifting in a bid to make ends meet, the city’s police chief has said.

Chief Superintendent Paul Money, the commander of Leeds police, believes financial hardship has driven some previously law-abiding people to desperation.“I’m no academic but the intelligence is telling us that some of it is austerity-driven. There’s a link to austerity in terms of the need to generate income. We are seeing things like foodstuffs being stolen from convenience stores”

Five of the 10 venues with the most recorded crime in Leeds in the last two years were supermarkets. Community corner-shops were also experiencing growing levels of theft.

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