Shopkeepers in Street say shoplifting is getting out of hand — claiming there are now more thefts than sales — yet police figures show just four incidents were officially recorded in July, and the same number in June.

Mark Tobin, who chairs the Street Retailers & Traders Association, said: "At our last meeting it was clearly evident that a large majority of shops and outlets on the High Street are currently experiencing a significant increase in crime.

"One trader commented that in the later part of the afternoon and early evening, there is more shoplifting than actual sales taking place. Another, who runs a local charity shop, has had to make major changes to the layout just to keep better visibility because of the spike in thefts."

Street High Street

Traders also reported growing groups loitering around the old Crispin Centre and Library Gardens — fuelling a wave of antisocial behaviour.

Mr Tobin urged every shopkeeper to log all incidents through the official police portals. Without accurate reporting, he warned, there's no case for more patrols or resources. He added that several calls for police over the summer went unanswered due to a lack of officers.

Despite the concerns, Avon and Somerset Police recorded just four shoplifting crimes in Street in July — and four in June.

It's believed that the low number of reported thefts is due to the confusing and time-consuming reporting process, as well as past instances of police non-attendance, which may have eroded shopkeepers' confidence.

Many small businesses, he said, simply don't have the time — and some may feel it won't lead to action anyway.

He is now urging consistent and accurate reporting to build the evidence needed for stronger policing.

Police in Clarks Village in Street

Neighbourhood sergeant Simon Lancey said: "We know how significant the impact of these crimes can be on shops, particularly smaller, independent ones but also the knock‑on effect on wider communities. It's a priority, particularly for neighbourhood teams who are acutely aware of this impact.

"Because we are often told it is difficult to report certain crimes, we have also been making improvements to our reporting systems to make it easier for shops and the public to report them and provide CCTV and statements to us.

"One of the ways we have made reporting crime easier is by issuing leaflets to traders with QR codes which they can scan with their mobile phones, which provides a link from which they can report various types of crime and upload CCTV.

"Overall, Street is a safe place to live and work but if people do not feel the figures are reflective of the situation, then we would be concerned and urge people to continue to report shoplifting and all business crimes.

"We would encourage anybody to report crime, no matter how small or how limited any lines of enquiry might be. We need accurate figures to provide us with a better picture on the scale of the problem and can therefore ensure we invest the correct level of resources into it.

"The advice is to simply report crimes, whether that be via 999 when an offence is in progress, by calling 101, by completing an online form, or after the event. When you see us on patrol, tell us your concerns as we will respond to them."

The Street Retailers & Traders Association meets every two months. Retailers can join via the Street & Glastonbury Chamber of Commerce.

More local stories

• Merriman Park Fun Day set for 2026 revival — community voices wanted

• Full service station with EV chargers and jet wash planned for Street garage site

Sign up to your nearest Nub News newsletter — Get the top stories from across the area every Friday.