Shop owners across Cheshire are being urged to contact the police for advice on how to prevent shoplifting as cases soar nationally.

According to the British Retail Consortium, retail thefts across England and Wales rose by 26 per cent in 2022.

At Friday's meeting (September 15) of the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel, Cllr Sam Naylor (CWAC, Lab) said he had been listening 'with incredulity' about incidents occurring across the country – including cases where shoplifting 'teams' were going into stores, ignoring staff and taking thousands of pounds worth of goods.

He asked Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer: "Is it a serious issue within Cheshire and, if it is, are you satisfied that the force are tackling it adequately?"

A police car on Churchill Way, Macclesfield. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Mr Dwyer said he was not aware of anything involving teams of shoplifters in Cheshire, as had been reported in some parts of the country.

He said he was satisfied Cheshire Police was dealing with the matter because it wasn't a 'minor' crime as is sometimes stated, but a serious issue.

And he urged retailers to seek advice on crime prevention.

"Some of these shops actually aren't helping themselves," said the commissioner.

Cheshire PCC John Dwyer, outside Cheshire HQ in Winsford.

"It's too easy, sometimes, to actually take things from a shelf and walk out without paying for it. And particularly, as we know now, some people are struggling to meet their bills, you can understand why that might be an option for them to do it."

He said it used to be important for supermarkets to have their tills by the exit doors.

"Now you go into some shops and the tills are at the far end of the shop, so you can walk out of the shop having paid for whatever you wanted to pay for, and then pinch something on the way out," said Mr Dwyer.

"This all about crime prevention. We do have a crime prevention department that will actually give that advice, so I'm encouraging traders, of whatever business they're in, to actually make an appointment for our crime prevention people to go and see them and give them the appropriate advice."

Macclesfield Police Station, of Brunswick Street. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

He added: "I'm satisfied that the police are dealing with it. And we're doing what we can to try and reduce that, but it is an important issue."

Specific stats for Cheshire and Macclesfield have not been disclosed.