The shoplifting capital and what it tells us about petty crime

Cleveland - which covers Stockton-on-Tees as well as areas such as Middlesbrough and Redcar - appears to be England and Wales's shoplifting capital. Figures show its police force recorded the highest number of shop theft offences with 13.6 offences per 1,000 people.

Experts say that the nature of shoplifting itself is changing, with a greater range of offenders targeting a more diverse range of goods. So who are the modern day shoplifters and what can be done to tackle them?

BBC reporters Jim Connolly and Cherry Wilson investigate.

BBC InDepth is the home of the best news analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. You can find more articles from InDepth - like this one - on the BBC News website and app.

(Image: BBC)