New DVD to stop teens shoplifting

Police have worked together with the Prince's Trust and pupils from Merchants Academy Schools to produce a DVD aimed at discouraging teenagers from shoplifting.

PC Karen MacDonald from the police youth team helped to produce the DVD. She said: "Shoplifting in the UK is on the rise. The Financial Times reported that UK retailers lost almost £2.2bn to shoplifters during 2011, an increase of 6% on the previous year."

"Whilst only about a fifth of shoplifting offences are being committed by teenagers in Avon and Somerset it's still a problem. Often young people don't realise the seriousness of being caught shoplifting and the impact it could have on their futures so we're hope to tackle this by educating them with this short DVD."

"We tend to see a spike in shoplifting crimes being committed by young people in the school holidays so we wanted to raise the profile of the consequences of committing this type of crime in advance of the summer holidays beginning next week."

Many young people might think that shoplifting isn't a serious offence but it's classed as theft. If you get caught for this type of offence you could get a criminal record affecting the types of job you can get in the future and where you can travel in the world. Places like the USA often won't let you in with a criminal record.

This video will be made available to schools in Avon and Somerset when the new school term begins. If you would be interested to find out more contact PC Karen MacDonald on 101. To view the video visit http://youtu.be/TeWOs_rAvms