Cork business community fighting back following increase in shoplifting thefts

CORK’S business community is fighting back following a rise in shoplifting thefts that has forced some city stores to invest in extra security.

It comes amid concerning data from a recent meeting of the Cork City Joint Policing Committee, which cited a 24% rise in thefts from stores in 2023 compared to last year.

Kevin Herlihy, president of the Cork Business Association (CBA), who also runs a number of Centra stores in Cork, attended the event. He later told The Echo that his stores had been affected mainly by alcohol thefts. The Cork man also vented concerns about high-end products in other city stores being taken as part of "stolen to order" thefts.

He is urging people to be vigilant when buying Christmas presents this year and avoid the temptation of illegally obtained items.

“My store has a big issue with alcohol theft. However, the high street stores are seeing high-end goods being stolen in what is being described as “stolen to order” thefts. This involves a person going into a store to steal an item only to later sell it at a massively discounted price. Instead of ordering from Amazon they are ordering from someone who is willing to go out and steal the product". 

"This is unfortunately coming at a massive cost to businesses. I now have to have security in all my stores because I have to think about protecting the staff as well as the product. Gardaí are really encouraging in-store security to prevent stealing. A lot of the stores have security but there are still a certain percentage who don’t."

Mr Herlihy said that gardaí are doing their utmost to mitigate the problem.

"When gardaí catch those responsible they are using the full rigours of the law. Criminals are being prosecuted and sentenced."

Meanwhile, Cork North West Councillor Damian Boylan, who chaired the Joint Policing Committee meeting, condemned the negative impact shoplifters are having on Cork city. He also issued an impassioned plea to the public to refrain from ordering stolen goods.

“The first thing I’ll say is not to encourage this behaviour,” he told the Echo. “Asking someone to put themselves in harm’s way for you is wrong and is equally as much a crime as the thefts taking place directly from a store."

"When you steal from a small business you are not only stealing a product, you are stealing someone’s livelihood. The price of what you are taking could add up to a couple of hour's wages for the person affected. All we are asking is for people to have some humanity. When you are stealing from a small business in Cork city it’s not like you are taking from Amazon. They will suffer as a result of what is being taken.” 

A Garda spokesperson advised people against purchasing stolen items.

“If a member of the public is of the belief that they are being offered stolen goods for purchase they should not purchase the item,” a Garda spokesperson said.

“In addition, they should report their suspicions to An Garda Síochána through one of the various reporting mechanisms outlined below.”