City shop owners have joined calls for more bobbies on the beat to tackle shoplifting woes.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper met with retail workers in Norwich as part of Respect for Shopworkers Week, saying shoplifting had reached "epidemic heights".
Office for National Statistics figures showed that Norwich had seen a 23pc rise in shoplifting from March 2022 to March 2023, from 1,259 to 1,554 - in line with a national 25pc surge.
Ms Cooper said Labour will scrap the Tory government's decision to downgrade police responses to shoplifting under £200 if they win the next election.
She also said Sir Keir Starmer intends to make it easier to take action against repeat offenders and to create a new specific offence of assault against retail workers.
Ashraf Mohammed, manager of Ye Olde Vape Shop in Castle Meadow, said: "I've caught a few people trying to shoplift items before.
"People will come in, pick something up and stick it in their pockets.
"When I confront them they'll just run out."
Aliona Khan, who works at the iVape and iMobile shop in Castle Street, added: "The other day someone came in, took something from the counter and just walked out.
"I shouted at them to come back but they don't care.
"We report everything which is stolen but nothing gets done and shoplifters know this.
"So even though we have CCTV, people don't care."
Ms Cooper was visiting a Co-op store in Sprowston alongside Labour's candidate for Norwich North at the next election, Alice MacDonald.
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Ms MacDonald said: “Labour is determined to tackle the scourge of shoplifting. The measures we have set out would make a real difference, including providing our hardworking local police with more resources and introducing stronger laws.”
Nick Rose, will be standing in Norwich North for the Tories and insists shoplifting is "an absolute priority" for the government too.
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"Whether it's a polyester bag or a bottle of champagne it is still a crime," he said.
"We need a better Crown Prosecution Service, a better justice service and better police.
"On the ground officers are brilliant, but management is the issue."
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