Crime category
Shoplifting in South Africa
Cases the source records as shoplifting.
38 797−7.5%(−3 142) decreased. Compared with the previous financial year.
South Africa, 2025/26
National trend
Every financial year in the dataset up to the year you select. Missing years appear as gaps, not as zero.
Area snapshot
2025/26 nationally, compared with this category's own history up to this year.
- 2025/26Latest financial year
- 38 797
- 5-year average2021/22–2025/26
- 44 900
- 10-year average2016/17–2025/26
- 51 867
- Historical high2009/10
- 88 821
- Historical low2025/26
- 38 797
The latest figure is the lowest in the available dataset.
Crime history
- Highest recorded year
- 2009/10 — 88 821 incidents
- Lowest recorded year
- 2025/26 — 38 797 incidents
- Largest year-on-year increase
- 2008/09 — +20.8%
- Largest year-on-year decrease
- 2020/21 — −21.2%
Unusual movements
The selected year's year-on-year change compared with earlier comparable movements in this series.
Latest movement · recorded crime
Within the historical range
The −7.5% movement in 2025/26 sits within the range of earlier comparable year-on-year changes for this series.
Province breakdown
Recorded shoplifting by province in 2025/26, listed alphabetically. This is not a ranking.
| Province | Recorded | Year-on-year |
|---|---|---|
| 2 452 | −8.5% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year. | |
| 2 067 | −6.6% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year. | |
| 13 244 | −2.1% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year. | |
| 5 882 | −16.3% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year. | |
| 2 253 | −14.8% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year. | |
| 1 980 | −12.9% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year. | |
| 1 470 | −2.5% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year. | |
| 1 201 | +6.2% increased. Compared with the previous financial year. | |
| 7 128 | −8.8% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year. |
Largest recent movements
Provinces whose year-on-year change clears CrimeMap SA's documented thresholds. Listed because the movement is large, not because the province is safer or more dangerous.
Recorded more often
- Northern Cape+6.2% increased. Compared with the previous financial year.
Recorded less often
- KwaZulu-Natal−16.3% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year.
- Limpopo−14.8% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year.
- Mpumalanga−12.9% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year.
- Western Cape−8.8% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year.
- Eastern Cape−8.5% decreased. Compared with the previous financial year.
Map
Local municipalities coloured by recorded volume for this category in 2025/26. Zoom in for police stations.