Is YOUR area a shoplifter's paradise? Shocking interactive map reveals where thieves are getting away scot-free… with just a 5% conviction rate in worst region

A new interactive map reveals the huge disparity in where shoplifters get off without being charged, laying bare the crime wave affecting England's supermarkets and shops. Brazen shoplifters stealing for a shop in Doncaster, South Yorkshire in October this year The shoplifter leaves the store after stealing items from the store on October 30 2023 Paul Gerrard, director of public affairs at the Co-op, said that forces such as the Met, which only sees around five per cent of shoplifters being charged, were 'not showing leadership' CCTV footage of an armed robbery at a Co-op which saw a member of staff threatened with an axe Britain's biggest force the Met charged 5.9% of shoplifting cases, the second worst in the country behind Surrey's 5.2%, the latest full year of data to March 2023 shows. Chief Inspector David Struggles, force lead for retail crime at South Yorkshire Police, told MailOnline that the force is committed to tackling retail crime, and has made great strides by targeting well-known and prolific shoplifters. The government announced a Retail Crime Action Plan in October, which outlined an intention to ensure police attendance in stores to tackle violence, where prolific offenders or youth offender have been detained and, to ensure all evidence is collected so that every reasonable line of enquiry is followed – a vital step, currently all too often missing in the police response. Shakita Maximilian and Yasmin Leech were spotted stealing £300 worth of Lego from an Asda store in Doncaster, South Yorkshire The pair strolled along multiple Tesco aisles before walking out of the stores without paying for items Shocking CCTV footage revealed earlier this year shows Joseph Tait brazenly taking armfuls of chilled food from the fridges of Sainsbury's in Newcastle Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses told MailOnline: 'Our new research shows 29% of small businesses in England and Wales were affected by theft in the last two years.