Desperate people are turning to crime to eat, it has been claimed.
Over 5,000 thefts of food and drink were recorded in Kirklees over the last five years.
A total of 6,014 items were reported as stolen in 5,327 incidents between April 2010 to January 2015.
Basic groceries have been revealed as by far the items most likely to be stolen, after figures in a freedom of information request showed that they made up more than half of total thefts.
Karen Selley, the manager of Huddersfield’s food bank, Welcome Centre, believes that welfare reforms are responsible for the increasing theft rates.
She said: “The welfare reforms are having an impact on almost everybody.
“We support as many people as we can but there are always going to be people who choose not to come to or don’t have access to a food bank and are so desperate that they are willing to steal to feed themselves.
“This I know due to feedback from our clients, who have shown they are very grateful for our services as otherwise their only alternative could have been to shoplift if the food bank wasn’t here, which is terribly sad.
“I think if we weren’t here the statistics would then be a lot higher.
“At the end of the day people want to feed themselves and their families and until anyone finds themselves in that situation they can’t know how they would cope themselves.
“Thankfully, many people are coming to us instead of resorting to these crimes.”
National food bank organisation, the Trussell Trust, reported a 54% increase in those relying on food banks last year compared to in 2012/13.
Karen made a plea for those in financial difficulties to get a referral to the centre to avoid the lure of stealing.
She said: “If anyone in crisis is in need they can get themselves referred to us by calling Kirklees Local Welfare Provision Team or telling support services like their GP, housing provider or social worker.”
Since welfare reforms began to be introduced from 2010 dozens of reports have highlighted the link between increasing poverty and shoplifting, including one from a police chief in Northumbria.
Meanwhile, figures from ONS Crime and England survey also showed that shoplifting has gone up both in the county and in England and Wales from 2012 to 2014.
West Yorkshire Police would not comment on potential reasons behind the thefts but explained how they were tackling the issue.
Sgt Mandy Mellor of Kirklees Police, said: “We work closely with retailers in an effort to reduce items being stolen from stores through shoplifting.
“This includes speaking directly to stores to help them increase their security levels and exploring ways to reduce the shoplifting to occur but also with offenders to understand the different tactics involved in the crime.
“People can also help by visiting the Caught on Camera section of the West Yorkshire Police website: www.westyorkshire.police.uk/camera-alerts/caught-on-camera
“It features images of people wanted in connection with alleged offences, including shoplifting.”
In unrelated investigations, police would like to speak to the people pictured in the image gallery below. The people pictured in the images may be witnesses as well as suspects. If you recognise anyone, contact police on 101 quoting the reference number on the image caption.
