Figures acquired through an FOI request by the Yorkshire Evening Post show that there was a total of 9942 incidents of shoplifting reported to police in 2023 across the entire Leeds district.
There was 7641 reported in 2022, meaning that there was a 30 per cent increase.
Similarly there was a total of 5389 incidents reported in 2021, 4875 in 2020 and 7042 in 2019.
The YEP previously spoke to staff and security at stores across Leeds about the sharp increase in crime they had witnessed.
They put it down to a sense of "desperation" and the strains put on people by the cost of living crisis.
Below is a gallery featuring the 15 ward areas of Leeds that saw the highest number of shoplifting incidents reported to West Yorkshire Police.
7. Temple Newsam Ward
The Temple Newsam ward, which also covers the Halton and Colton suburbs, recorded 464 shoplifting incidents in 2023. There was 347 in 2022, 289 in 2021, 107 in 2020 and 205 in 2019. | Google Photo: Google
8. Kirkstall Ward
The Kirkstall ward has recorded 463 shoplifting incidents in 2023. There was 291 in 2022, 316 in 2021, 267 in 2020 and 343 in 2019. | National World Photo: National World
9. Bramley and Stanningley
Bramley and Stanningley Ward recorded 337 incidents of shoplifting in 2023. There was 198 in 2022, 125 in 2021, 238 in 2020 and 151 in 2019. | Google Photo: Google
10. Cross Gates and Whinmoor Ward
In Cross Gates and Whinmoor there was 284 reported incidents of shoplifting in 2023. There was 233 in 2022, 124 in 2021, 78 in 2020 and 95 in 2019. | jpimedia Photo: JPImedia
11. Morley South Ward
Morley South Ward recorded 282 incidents of shoplifting in 2023. There was 163 in 2022, 184 in 2021, 192 in 2020 and 258 in 2019. | Google Photo: Google
12. Gipton and Harehills
The ward of Gipton and Harehills recorded 188 incidents of shoplifting in 2023. There was 149 in 2022, 129 in 2021, 181 in 2020 and 221 in 2019. 221 181 129 149 188 | Mark Anderson Photo: Mark Anderson (cc-by-sa/2.0)