Tuesday June 2nd 2026
Police Scotland
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Shoplifting incidents increased in Midlothian by 45 percent during the last quarter with police saying the cost of living and organised crime gangs are at the centre of the rise.
A meeting of Midlothian Council’s Police and Fire and Rescue Board this week heard that while some people are stealing to survive others are making huge profits as the problem hits retailers across the area.
New local area commander for the county Gordon Cooper told the meeting that there had been 845 incidents reported between December and March this year.
He said at Straiton Retail Park a crackdown on offences led to two people being arrested in connection with up to 60 theft by shoplifting offences.
The commander told the board the increase in incidents was 45 per cent higher than the five year average with the detection rating sitting at just under 40 per cent.
He said: “The increase in shoplifting is, in part, driven by the cost of living crisis and items stolen out of necessity for daily living and organised crime groups who are directing activity in order to make vast sums of money.
“Shoplifting offenders are also driven by their desire to fund drug or alcohol addictions.”
He added that a Midlothian problem solving team had been liaising with the local retail task force to tackle the problem saying: “During quarter four a joint operation was carried out at Straiton retail park.
“This resulted in two prolific individuals being arrested for over 60 offences linked with theft by shoplifting n the area between November 2025 and March 2026.”
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