Tipperary shoplifters are giving two fingers to the state according to an Irish MEP.
Ireland South representative Cynthia Ní Mhurchú is calling for a zero tolerance approach to shoplifters in the Premier County.
Crime figures show that shoplifting has dramatically increased across most counties in Ireland over the past 20 years.
Kildare has seen the biggest rise, with a 314 per cent increase between 2003 and 2024.
That’s followed by Tipperary at 227 per cent. There were 220 recorded incidents of shoplifting in the Tipperary Garda Division in 2003. This rose to 719 recorded incidents of shoplifting in Tipperary in 2024.
MEP Ní Mhurchú is calling for a number of steps to be taken to tackle the issue.
“Number 1 mandatory prison sentences for anyone caught shoplifting on more than one occasion.
“Number 2 to update the Public Order acts to allow a prolific offender of retail crime to be excluded from a premises for a certain period of time. We need support for targeted Garda operations to tackle retail crime and remove assets from those who are suspected of organised retail theft.”
