Planet Organic is losing over £900,000 a year from shoplifting across its nine London stores. 

The disclosure came in a BBC Weekend interview with Planet’s head of security, Richard Fowler, at its Chiswick store.  

He told the BBC that in-store thefts were perpetrated by three main groups. As well as people he identified as among poorer and “homeless” groups, Fowler cited “posh” and “opportunist” shoplifters. Some of these p, he said, are regular Planet Organic customers “who spend a lot of money with our business”, and occasionally feel “entitled to steal something”.  

Some of these are regular Planet Organic customers “who spend a lot of money with our business”, who occasionally feel “entitled to steal something”

Theft is such a problem for retailers on the stretch of Chiswick High Road on which Planet Organic is located, that many have their doors locked and require customers to buzz to enter. Fowler added: “Theft takes place in this store every single day. It’s costing the business £900,000 a year”.