NewsUK NewsShopliftingPeople who just 'decide' to pocket something in a shop could be worst hit, experts sayNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)06:42, 28 May 2026Shops across the UK are rolling out AI cameras to catch thieves after a change in the law. A UK security firm has warned that ‘opportunistic theft’ will see harsher punishments in 2026.‌AI-enabled cameras are now being used in stores to track merchandise, record video evidence of theft and send mobile security alerts when suspicious activity is detected. Kingdom Security, which provides security personnel to several high street retailers, said ‘opportunistic theft’ will be cracked down on the hardest, as the everyday ‘pocketing’ of retail items has become increasingly normalised by many.‌As of May 2026, more than 100 retailers from across the UK have begun to roll out the new AI technology. The cameras, able to track merchandise from shelves to concealed areas like coats and bags, can also alert staff when known thieves enter the store.‌Andrew Cockerill, Account Director at Kingdom Security, said: “This new AI technology will mean ‘one-off opportunistic theft’ will soon no longer be treated as such, with teams able to receive mobile alerts when thieves enter stores.‌“The vast majority of theft in stores occurs long before individuals approach the checkout, with ‘opportunity’ consistently ranking as a leading cause. While many see shoplifting as a victimless crime, it’s not. In total, between prevention measures and loss recovery, it adds an estimated £133 onto the average UK household shopping bill each year.”Andrew warns ‘opportunistic thieves’ that wider rollouts of the technology could see them banned from retail stores over repeated small-level theft. “In recent years, the aggressive rise in shoplifting has been met with swift responses from both government and the wider retail sector. Changes in law under the Crime and Policing Act 2026 mean low-value theft will no longer be treated differently to the theft perpetrated by ‘shoplifting-to-order’ gangs. Ultimately theft is theft, and even ‘one-off opportunistic shoplifting’ could lead to prosecution.”Article continues belowThe Crime and Policing Act 2026 introduced several changes to shoplifting laws to protect retailers and clamp down on theft. Most notably, the legislation abolished the ‘low-value theft’ classification, meaning shoplifting goods worth under £200 is no longer treated as a minor offence and can be prosecuted with full severity.Retailers and businesses, Andrew added, can do several things to protect themselves from opportunistic thieves, including putting into place special protocols for high-value items and hiring additional security officers to provide a visible deterrent in-store.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌CrimeShoplifting