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.
13. Beeston and Holbeck
In the Beeston and Holbeck ward there was 186 reported incidents of shoplifting in 2023. There was 217 in 2022, 93 in 2021, 118 in 2020 and 167 in 2019. | National World Photo: National World
14. Middleton Park Ward
Middleton Park Ward recorded 183 incidents of shoplifting in 2023. There was 175 in 2022, 77 in 2021, 110 in 2020 and 150 in 2019. 150 110 77 175 183 | NA Photo: Mtaylor848 CC by 4.0
15. Moortown Ward
Moortown Ward recorded 169 incidents of shoplifting in 2023. There was 107 in 2022, 95 in 2021, 71 in 2020 and 83 in 2019. | Rich Tae Photo: Rich Tea (cc-by-sa/2.0)