Costa Coffee has reportedly taken drastic measures to combat a surge in shoplifting by hiring bouncers at numerous stores across the United Kingdom. The high street coffee giant, which operates over 2,700 outlets in the UK and Ireland, has allegedly employed full-time security guards at dozens of locations facing daily theft incidents.
Hotspots for Brazen Theft
Stores in Denmark Hill and Croydon, both situated in south London, have emerged as particular hotspots for rampant thieves. According to reports, individuals boldly storm onto the shop floor and pilfer items directly from shelves and refrigerators. A Costa Coffee branch next to Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre has also enlisted extra security help in response to the crisis.
Targeting High-Value Items
Staff members have revealed that thieves frequently target premium products, such as cheese and ham toasties priced at £5.10 and stuffed croissants costing £4.10. Other commonly stolen items include toasties, orange juice, and croissants, which are often taken straight from the fridges. The security personnel are specifically tasked with monitoring these refrigerated sections to deter potential shoplifters from striking.
Alarming Rise in Shoplifting Offences
Official statistics underscore the severity of the issue. Shoplifting offences in England and Wales increased by five percent in the year to September 2025, reaching a total of 519,381 incidents. In London alone, more than 100,000 offences were recorded in the year to October 2025, a significant jump from 58,000 in 2023. Despite this surge, the Metropolitan Police attended only 14,000 of the reported incidents.
Notable Incidents and Industry Response
Croydon has become a notable epicentre for shoplifting, with various high street chains besides Costa repeatedly targeted. In one store within the borough, guards previously disclosed that desperate shoplifters had established a 'black market' for sausage rolls and doughnuts, selling them on the streets for 50p each. Earlier this year, a prolific thief nicknamed the 'Hamster' by staff avoided jail despite stealing nearly £2,000 worth of items from a bakery.
In Hammersmith, west London, a shoplifter was physically restrained by two security guards while attempting to smuggle out bottles of fizzy drink in July last year. Industry-wide, it has become standard practice to instruct supermarket staff not to confront shoplifters, with some facing dismissal if they intervene.
Criticism of Retail Policies
David McKelvey, a former detective who runs the private police force TM Eye, has criticised this policy, arguing that it exacerbates the shoplifting crisis. He stated that retailers are effectively leaving their doors wide open to offenders, including dangerous and violent criminals who attack staff members.
Financial Impact on Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee is among numerous high street retailers grappling with the repercussions of the cost of living crisis. The brand, owned by Coca-Cola, reported that its operating loss widened from £5.8 million in 2023 to £13.5 million in the year to December 2024. These results represent the worst financial year for Costa since the pandemic, a stark contrast to the pre-pandemic era when it regularly posted profits of up to £100 million annually.
Costa Coffee was contacted for comment regarding the deployment of security guards and the broader shoplifting issue, but no official statement has been provided at this time.
