Alcohol Thefts Lead To 165% Jump In Shoplifting In Laois

Covid-19 restrictions are being blamed for the significant jump in figures.

Alcohol thefts have led to a 165% increase of shoplifting in Laois.

New garda figures show - compared to the first quarter of 2021 - thefts from shops is up from 48 to 127 in the same time period this year.

Speaking at the Laois Joint Policing Committee, Chief Superintendent John Scanlan blamed the increase in thefts on the reopening of more stores following the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also said the perpetrators are generally caught, and more often than not it's someone with an alcohol problem.

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