Christmas shoplifters to rob €31m in goods

THIEVES will rob almost €31m in goods in shops across the country of this Christmas. According to a European retail theft survey, more than €3.2bn will be stolen across Europe in the six weeks from mid-November to the end of December.

British shoplifters top the league table, stealing an estimated €709m worth of goods this Christmas, followed by Germany (€641m) and France (€572m).

While Irish shoplifters will steal the least amount of goods this holiday season according to this EU survey, director of the Small Firms Association Pat Delaney believes the figure of 31m is extremely conservative.