The city recorded 422 incidents last December, according to new data from security company Spy Alarms, which analysed shoplifting reports across the country during the busy Christmas period.
This placed Cardiff sixth nationally, tied with Brighton, as retailers continue to face growing concerns over retail crime during the festive season.
Birmingham topped the list with 1,080 incidents, followed by Leeds with 750 and Westminster with 563.
Sheffield took fourth place with 458 incidents, while Nottingham recorded 413.
The figures highlight the rising pressure on UK retailers, with shoplifting nationally increasing to 516,971 incidents in the year to December 2024—a 20 per cent rise on the previous year.
Retailers have warned that theft is now ‘spiralling out of control,’ costing the industry more than £2.2 billion and placing growing pressure on high streets.
The trend is part of a broader global spike in retail crime, with international data showing sharp increases in shoplifting during peak shopping months.
Globally, October saw the highest number of incidents at 44,255, followed by August with 43,843 and November with 42,223.
Although there was a slight dip in December to 35,419, retail theft remains significantly elevated during the holiday period, making it one of the riskiest times of year for businesses.
Spy Alarms, which conducted the analysis, is a security solutions provider with nearly 40 years of experience in burglar alarms, CCTV, fire protection, and access control systems across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and London.
