The stunning UK city plagued by 'out-of-control' thieves

At archetypal glance, Bath seems a picture-perfect visage of aureate Georgian architecture and quirky  autarkic shops with a affluent taste past to boot.

It is the lone UK metropolis designated arsenic a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its Roman Baths, erstwhile 1 of the large spiritual spas of the past world, are present a fashionable tourer attraction. Its Christmas marketplace is besides often named the champion successful the country.

But a murkier world lies beneath the city's glossy exterior - its increasing presumption arsenic a shoplifting capital, with a shocking emergence of 83% successful the 12 months to September putting it connected a worse year-on-year trajectory than anyplace other successful the country.

In that timespan, 138.6 offences were recorded per 10,000 people, making it the eighth worst spot successful the UK for the office. It was capable to spur Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse to inquire the Crime Minister for a bigger constabulary beingness to guarantee "my shopkeepers consciousness safe". But what is down the accelerated and astonishing surge?

Allison Herbert, CEO of Bath's Business Improvement District (BID) credits the epidemic to the "broader challenges of substance maltreatment and organised crime".

"Amongst the rising contented of transgression connected the nation's precocious streets, Bath's estimation arsenic an charismatic metropolis to visit, with its World Heritage City status, history, culture, shops and world-class sport, makes it a people for specified incidents," she told Express.co.uk.

"In the past 12 months, Bath BID has been moving proactively with section businesses to combat the issues of transgression and antisocial behaviour successful the metropolis centre, whilst besides moving intimately with Avon and Somerset Police."

The problem, which has been described arsenic "out of control" by West of England Mayor Dan Norris, shows nary signs of abating. In October, constabulary charged a 21-year-old antheral with 7 theft offences including of a bicycle, tobbacco and vapes and a 45-year-old for entering the staff-only country of a store to bargain products totalling £300 successful value.

Speaking successful January, Mr Norris said shopkeepers that stood steadfast successful the look of lawbreakers would beryllium forced to summation their prices to marque up for the mislaid goods - "making this frightening cost-of-living situation worse for all".

The epidemic could escalate arsenic tourists flock to the metropolis to bask its world-famous Christmas market adjacent month, with businesses offering festive food, portion and unrecorded amusement from the beauteous chalet huts apt to beryllium much connected their defender than accustomed pursuing the worrying statistics.

One shopkeeper already astatine the extremity of their tether is Rahul Sharma, 34, manager of Ganesha Handicraft and Jewellery successful The Corridor. Mr Sharma, whose store has been breached into 3 times, said helium was losing the "time and effort" progressive successful sourcing stolen jewellery arsenic good arsenic making a fiscal loss.

"Sometimes I consciousness similar shutting up store due to the fact that of the accent that comes with it," helium told MailOnline. "Sometimes I'm losing wealth alternatively than making it, and wonderment what's the point. But it's a passion. Everybody loves the store and it's a well-known spot to get Christmas presents."

Initiatives are successful spot to tackle the emergence successful section shoplifting offences including 160 businesses being connected via Citylink vigor strategy to City Marshals who are connected manus 7 days a week to woody with theft and antisocial behaviour incidents.