Soaring chocolate prices and strong Easter demand are helping drive a rise in shop theft across Britain, with organized crime gangs increasingly targeting confectionery because it is portable, easy to resell, and difficult to trace, according to a report by The Telegraph.

Chocolate is now among the five most-stolen retail items, alongside alcohol, meat, cheese, and cosmetics, with thefts expected to peak over Easter, according to the report. Retailers have responded by putting bars, boxed chocolates, and seasonal products behind plastic barriers, shutters, and security tags. 

The illicit trade is being sustained by a broad black market for stolen goods sold through social media, online marketplaces, car boot sales, pubs, and corner shops. Britain’s total shop theft bill, including losses and prevention costs, reached 4.2 billion pounds last year, according to the report, which cited British Retail Consortium data. 

Criminologist Martin Gill told the newspaper that organized gangs are increasingly involved, with some stripping whole shelves rather than stealing for personal use. The report said police intelligence unit Opal estimates organized crime networks are responsible for about 25 percent of shop thefts, with many also involved in offenses such as drug trafficking and fraud. 

The news outlet also cited official figures showing 519,381 shoplifting offenses in England and Wales in the 12 months to September 2025, up 45 percentfrom pre-pandemic levels. A separate retail survey found 20.4 million incidents between September 2023 and August 2024, equivalent to 39 a minute, the report said. 

Read more at The Telegraph