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More parents are using children to shoplift for them, according to retailers

According to Retail Excellence, all kinds of shops – from electronics to garden centres – are reporting higher rates of children shoplifting.

THERE ARE INCREASING concerns from retailers about crimes involving parents telling their children to shoplift to avoid charges by gardaí.

Retail Excellence, who represent shop owners across Ireland, will host a briefing session today with Fianna Fáil Seanad spokesperson on jobs Senator Aidan Davitt outlining the various retail crime issues.

According to Retail Excellence, shops from electronics to garden centres are reporting higher rates of this kind of activity.

“The presentation will cover issues like the increase in instances where children are being used by their parents to pilfer items from stores,” a spokesperson told TheJournal.ie.

shutterstock_561549910 Shutterstock / Purple Anvil Shutterstock / Purple Anvil / Purple Anvil

This happens primarily because they cannot be prosecuted as very often they have not reached the criminal age of responsibility.
The fact their parents are not being charged as accessories in a crime ensures repetition of this kind of theft will continue to retailers’ detriment.

When we asked the gardaí if there was a rise in the figures, they directed us to the CSO figures, but didn’t respond on what the garda response would be if a parent were to get their children involved in shoplifting.

The recorded garda figures of ‘theft from a shop’ are as follows:

Recorded shop thefts CSO / An Garda Síochána CSO / An Garda Síochána / An Garda Síochána

Although there seems to be a decrease in reported shop robberies, the figures don’t indicate the number of reported robberies involving children.

The spokesperson for Retail Excellence said that this kind of shoplifting could amount to millions in lost revenue for shop owners.

Other problems faced by retailers

Today’s discussion will also include other concerns: including examples on how a rise in insurance claims plus Brexit fears have put additional strains on business owners.

There have also been reports of employees in companies clubbing together to buy their solid fuel from rogue sellers.

Retail Excellence say that these sellers supply briquettes and coal without carbon tax being paid on them, which deprives retailers of business and the Exchequer of funds gained through tax on these goods.

Read: Cash, drugs and fake tan among the most common items stolen from pharmacies

Read: Children as young as 12 and pensioners in their 70s shoplifting in Dublin stores

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17 Comments
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    Mute Jay
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    Apr 13th 2025, 8:19 PM

    29 going on 49. You are only young once pal.

    97
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    Mute P. J.
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    Apr 13th 2025, 10:36 PM

    @Jay:
    That’s the only type who would keep a money diary!!
    Have you noticed how many accountants and money managers come up?

    23
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    Mute George Bowling
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    Apr 13th 2025, 8:57 PM

    Maybe if the journal offered a free bet to write one of these diaries we’d all finally get the account of the young life of the hard drinking tearaway whose rent this week is entirely dependent on the 3.30 at Kempton that we all secretly hope to read whenever we open one of these articles.

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    Mute P. J.
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    Apr 13th 2025, 10:33 PM

    @George Bowling:
    Haha, it would have to be a lot more than one free bet to get someone like that to keep an accurate money diary

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    Mute Laney Sinc
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    Apr 13th 2025, 8:06 PM

    Youth is wasted on the young.

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    Mute Lance Taylor
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    Apr 14th 2025, 5:23 AM

    @Laney Sinc: he is a very rich one and saving a pretty penny

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    Mute Trish
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    Apr 13th 2025, 9:23 PM

    Well done. I think you’re doing great.

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    Mute Thomas O'Brien
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    Apr 13th 2025, 9:51 PM

    Woke up, got out of bed, dragged the comb across my head. Made my way downstairs and drank a cup and looking up I noticed I was late.
    Found my coat and grabbed my hat, made the bus in seconds flat.
    Found my way upstairs and had a smoke and somebody spoke and I went into a dream.

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    Mute Thomas Meaney
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    Apr 13th 2025, 8:50 PM

    I can only assume the engineer is either Elec, Mech or similar. His remuneration shows the exploitation large companies get away with. You can be guaranteed they are charging the client double if not more for his role. Of course I’m guessing but this would be typical of construction companies. After all the years studying being an engineer is no longer seen as it was once before.

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    Mute Dan The Man
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    Apr 13th 2025, 9:12 PM

    @Thomas Meaney: He could grow a pair and go work for himself and double his salary immediately minimum.

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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    Apr 14th 2025, 4:47 AM

    no kids, carreer oriented and no life

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    Mute Dan The Man
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    Apr 14th 2025, 6:05 AM

    @Dominic Leleu: People don’t seem to realise you pay for selfish choices at the end in old age when loneliness and isolation kick in.

    12
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