The Black Country's shoplifter hotspots revealed

The top 40 stores targeted by shoplifters in the Black Country can today be revealed.

Asda, Debenhams, Primark and Boots were all hit dozens of times last year in a crime spree that sees £400,000 stolen each day.

Asda's major branch near Molineux, Wolverhampton, was worst hit with 131 recorded thefts and the supermarket giant's branch on George Street in Walsall was the second worst hit, with 93 offences.

Security staff are now stationed at CCTV desks by the supermarket doors to monitor suspicious activity.

Shops in the Merry Hill Centre accounted for many of Dudley's most hit stores, with Debenhams topping the borough's worst-hit branches.

Sgt Steve Edwards, of Wolverhampton police, said today shoplifters traditionally fell in to two categories.

He said: "We have prolific offenders who continually reoffend in they city centre and also we'll have the other thread which is school children and young people.

"Retail crime is one of our main priorities - I would say at least 55 to 60 per cent of our time is taken up with it.

"There are numerous shops in the city centre that will have a high number of offences, it's generally the major stores because they are bigger and have got more to offer for a thief. In January, we probably had less than one call about it a day. But in November it was two or three a day, because different people are out at different times and different offenders are active.

"We adjust our strategies accordingly to deter people.

"If we've got a lot of prolific offenders who aren't in custody at a particular time, naturally crime will rise."

He said shoplifters often relied on "fences" to sell on their hauls quickly.

Sgt Edwards said: "Shoplifters will go to pubs and anywhere where there's a gathering of people so that they can offload items as quickly as they can."

"There's pubs, off-licences in the city where the staff handle stolen goods. There could be a link to alcohol. "Perhaps shoplifter drinks alcohol all the time, frequent the shop and build a relationship up with the shopkeeper."

In March a thief wheeled a £700 mountain bike out of Halfords in the Merry Hill Shopping Centre.

In Dudley, police were today seeking a woman shoplifter who confuses staff before making off with cigarettes.

Police say they believe the woman pictured is responsible for brazen thefts from convenience stores around the borough. The thief distracts staff by piling goods into her basket and then asking for Benson & Hedges cigarettes from behind the counter.

Police are linking three thefts to the same suspect, including the one pictured here which happened on April 15 at 7.30pm. Pc Bill Donnelly, of Norton neighbourhood police, said: "She hands over a card to make payment for the items, which gets declined.

"It seems the customer then goes outside, claiming to be going to get her boyfriend's bank card, but never returns.

"It is only after the lady has walked out of the shop that the staff member realised she had taken the cigarettes."

It is one of a seemingly ever more cunning tricks that shoplifters are resorting to to get away with goods.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) says that the year-on-year cost of theft to high street stores up and down the country has soared from £99 million to £137m, despite a drop in shoplifting of 11 per cent.

Items from TVs, to computer games, clothes and perfumes worth £375,342 are swiped from the shelves every day.

Retailers suspect organised gangs of thieves who steal more valuable hauls are responsible for the rising figure.

Stephen Robertson, of the BRC, said the fall in offences reflects the increased investment of stores in security measures.

But he called on the Government, police and courts to do more to support businesses despite the potential impact of budget cuts on public services.

Mr Robertson added: "It's encouraging to see this having a positive impact on the number of shoplifting offences but the cost to retailers still went up.

"Retailers' extra investment in stopping crime has deterred a lot of opportunist thefts leaving a higher proportion of determined, organised thieves who take a greater value of goods each time they steal."

The figures were based on a survey of 54 retailers who employ more than 1.3 million staff and represent almost half of Britain's retail turnover.

Mr Robertson said that there must be urgent action against those who do not pay penalty notices for theft and for persistent offenders to be dealt with by the courts.

By Mike Woods