The luxury city where shoplifting is growing faster than anywhere else

In recent months the issue has been described as “out of control” and “unsustainable” by West of England Mayor Dan Norris, now Labor MP for East Somerset and Hanham and a junior minister.

“For the shops that remain open, they will be forced to create prices to make up for the lost goods – exacerbating this frightening cost of living crisis for all,” he said.

Paul Crossley, a long-serving Liberal Democrat member of Bath and North East Somerset council, said Bath’s bustling shops made it a target.

“Being a very successful shopping city, we have a lot of people from all over coming to shop, so the shops are very busy, so it’s easier for rogue elements to go undetected,” he told The Telegraph.

“The center of Bath is bustling, especially around Christmas. You have the opportunistic thieves, those who are in trouble and feel they can’t put food on the table, but the organized gangs are attracted to the centre.”

His comments appear to be backed up by a crime map for Bath on the police’s national website, which recorded more than 50 reported theft offenses in the central business district in September alone.

Avon and Somerset Police held a series of ‘action days’ in an effort to crack down, resulting in court appearances for the defendants charged with dozens of felony counts of theft each.

They also send plainclothes officers on patrol and work with private security firms hired by desperate business owners.