Garda operation targeting shoplifters launched

The commencement of a garda operation targeting organised retail theft has been announced by Detective Superintendent David Nolan of the Meath Westmeath Division.

"Operation Táirge" which began on Monday, and supports investigations into organised retail theft, which is particurlary affecting businesses in the run-up to Christmas.

Detective Superintendent Nolan is asking all retailers in Meath and Westmeath to engage with Gardai on Christmas patrols in towns and villages, to work together to reduce retail theft this Christmas. So far this year, there already is a 14 per cent increase in incidences of organised retail crime offences Business owners are particularly affected by this spike in crime in the run up to the festive season.

Chief Superintendent Padraic Jones of the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau said: "Organised retail crime (ORC) poses a significant threat to the viability of Irish retailers including Irish small and medium enterprises which are a core element of Ireland’s economy.

"Gardaí are doing vital work in keeping our communities safe and Operation Táirge will play a key role in ensuring our retailers and their staff are protected from organised crime and the harm that it can do to their business, We are sending a clear message that there is no place for retail crime in Ireland.”

Operation Táirge has been established as part of An Garda Síochána’s Crime Prevention and Reduction Strategy in an effort to reduce the detrimental impact which criminals can have on retail businesses when they steal their goods.

"We want business owners and staff to feel protected and safe from this kind of criminality, and we will continue to work closely with them in whatever way possible. Most essential is that we utilise our ongoing intelligence gathering to target and take out these groups – they’re no longer operating under any radar and they will be caught,” said Chief Supt Jones.

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association estimate that retail crime costs retailers over of €1.62 billion each year. Additionally, the Global Retail Theft Barometer indicates that Ireland has the highest cost per capita of retail crime (€339.31) - significantly more than both second and third placed countries, Iceland and Denmark.

Yesterday's Oireachtas Committee hearing on shoplifting and how it is affecting retailers heard of "an explosion in crime against retailers".

Tara Buckley, the Director General of Retail Grocery Dairy and Allied Traders Association (RGDATA), which represents over 3,500 local shops, said they descend "like a plague of locusts and rob to order".

Meanwhile, Julie Dorel, Musgrave's Haed of Communications told the committee they have approximately 1,000 incidents a week.

However, she said this figure of reported incidents is an understatement as retailers feel it is an investment in time with little outcome to record crimes committed against them and their staff.

Vincent Jennings, Chief Executive of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA) outlined that most shoplifting is done by a "small number of criminals stealing on a regular basis," and "most worryingly" they use children to carry out the crimes.