Shoplifting is notably prevalent in Bath, occurring at a rate of 16.0 incidents per 1,000 residents between January and December 2025. This makes it the third most common crime type in the city, accounting for approximately 14% of all recorded criminal activity. With Bath's population of 96,241, this translates to roughly 1,540 shoplifting incidents annually. The elevated rate reflects both the city's substantial retail sector and its position as a major tourist destination, which creates increased opportunities for retail theft in busy shopping areas.
The concentration of shoplifting activity is heavily focused on Bath's commercial districts. The primary retail area around Milsom Street, the SouthGate shopping centre, and the Corridor shopping arcade experience the highest rates of theft. High-street retailers selling clothing, cosmetics, and electronics are particularly targeted, with organised retail crime groups sometimes operating alongside opportunistic individual offenders. The large daily influx of tourists and shoppers creates crowded conditions that make detection more challenging for retailers, whilst the presence of valuable merchandise in accessible displays increases vulnerability to theft.
Several factors contribute to Bath's shoplifting rates. The city's economic profile includes areas of deprivation alongside affluence, and substance dependency issues affect some persistent offenders. Additionally, Bath's compact city centre concentrates numerous retail outlets in a relatively small area, creating what criminologists describe as a "target-rich environment". The city's excellent transport links also make it accessible to travelling offenders from surrounding areas. Retailers have responded by investing in security measures including CCTV, electronic tagging systems, and trained security personnel, whilst police have implemented specialist retail crime initiatives.