The problem is seemingly nationwide.
In Truro, Cornwall, shop owner Martin Gaunt said his quirky gifts and collectibles store, Happy Piranha, was targeted by thieves on an almost daily basis.
He said he followed one thief and witnessed goods taken from his shop being sold on to another trader.
With 12 cameras in his shop, the task of trying to stop thieves had become “all consuming”, he said.
“I’m thinking about it when I go to sleep, I’m thinking about it when I wake up.”
Ch Insp Sarah Johns, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “We are aware that shoplifting is an offence which can hugely impact the livelihoods and well-being of businesses and their employees.
“We know how devastating this can be, especially if the business becomes a regular target – that’s why we continue to strive to connect with our local retailers.
She added that “several initiatives” were in place to combat shoplifting, and teams across Devon and Cornwall “work hard to build relations with local partners and use a range of measures, such as plain clothes operations and targeted days of action, to identify and deter prolific offenders”.
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