Small firms hit by €650m thefts

SMALL businesses are facing an annual €650m theft bill and gardaí can’t tackle the problem, a business group has claimed.

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association (ISME) has hit out at garda failure to crack down on business theft. ISME chief executive Mark Fielding said gardaí have given up on shoplifting because they are short of resources.

Around 62% of retailers have been the victim of shoplifting and each faces an average annual loss of €7,000. During busy periods like Christmas shoplifters steal more than €30m from businesses.