South West shops contend with daily theft as crime-reporting app rolls out

Shoplifting is described as a daily problem in the South West, with shopworkers facing violence, abuse and even being dragged across counters; Devon and Cornwall Police say prosecutions are rising, from 16% of reported crimes in 2022-23 to 31% since June 2026, helped by new reporting platforms like the UK-PAC app that let retailers log crimes quickly and attach CCTV evidence; the app has logged 855 incidents in the three months to September 2026, and cities like Exeter and towns like Penzance are using radios and CCTV controls to coordinate responses, with some shopkeepers reporting near-daily thefts and saying the issue intensified after the Covid-19 era.