Crime gangs exploiting vulnerable children to carry out shoplifting raids

#englishnews News Article :- Serious organised crime gangs are recruiting vulnerable British children who are in care to create modern-day Fagin gangs to carry out shoplifting raids. The new ploy being deployed by ruthless gangsters follows the county lines methods used by drug dealers and is one of a series of methods being used by criminals as they target UK shops in ever-increasing numbers. Children as young as 13 are being recruited by the gangs with offers of expensive designer trainers or a new tracksuit in return for carrying out regular raids to steal higher-end items such as champagne and whisky. And in Scotland one major gang is exploiting the free public transport available to young people to send children on out of town “robbing raids” – often travelling large distances from Glasgow to reach remote shops that are viewed as “easy pickings” because they have lesser levels of security than major city outlets. The problem of vulnerable children being recruited by serious organised crime gangs is helping to fuel the £2.2bn shoplifting epidemic blighting Britain and leaving retailers in the depths of despair. The British Retail Consortium says this would ensure that shop staff feel it is worthwhile reporting offences, whilst officers attendance would act as a visible deterrent to shoplifters who currently feel they are almost guaranteed to get away without punishment. Kevin Burton of Kingdom Security which provides security for hundreds of shops, including major supermarkets and high-street retailers, said: “It’s ruthless. They are generally using children aged between 13 and 17 and they are looking at children who are in care, it’s pretty much like modern-day Fagin gangs.