Thousands of Scottish shoplifters avoided court last year, despite being caught by police.
New Scottish Government figures show that 6,414 thieves got fiscal fines or warnings in 2012/13 instead of answering for their crimes in the dock.
The statistics can be revealed as The Courier begins a three-day investigation into the price being paid by retailers, consumers and the criminals themselves.
Only a quarter of shoplifters who did make it to court were jailed and many were let off without meaningful punishment.
Today, we reveal the staggering cost of the annual festive crime spree to every hard-pressed family in Courier Country.
Over three days we analyse how drastic under-reporting may be hiding a shoplifting epidemic and speak to the industry expert who claims society’s powerbrokers should shoulder some blame.
We assess which parts of Scotland are most affected and ask habitual shoplifters why they do it.
Going undercover, we attempt to steal from one of the biggest stores in Angus and join a security patrol in Dundee.
In Fife we take to the streets for a festive patrol with police and apprehend a thief, while in Perthshire and Forth Valley we assess which areas are hit the hardest.In this week’s Courier:Tuesday We expose the shocking cost of shoplifting to each household and speak to an industry expert about how criminals justify their actions.
Wednesday We speak to habitual thieves whose actions are ruining their lives and see how easy it is to get away with it ourselves.
Thursday We show how many crimes have been committed in your neighbourhood and hear how the police are fighting back.
To follow the investigation, get your Courier this week or try our digital edition.