Midlands TD seeks tougher penalties for shoplifters who conceal their face

Shoplifters who use face coverings to hide their identity should face an additional criminal charge alongside that of theft, Offaly TD Tony McCormack has said.

Deputy McCormack, who is the Fianna Fáil party's spokesperson on Small and Medium Enterprises and Retail, argued that penalties ought to be strengthened for individuals who deliberately conceal their identity while committing a crime.

He stated that retail crime was a growing issue, which the Small and Medium Enterprises Association estimating it costs retailers more than €1.62 billion each year.

He said clear penalties should be set out in statute to send a strong message to what he described as the "casual shoplifter", those who "steal for thrill, peer approval, or because they do not fear consequences".

The Offaly TD added that face coverings were increasingly being used to provide anonymity for those targeting small businesses.

Speaking on the issue, Deputy McCormack said: "When faces are hidden, accountability disappears. Masks provide anonymity, and anonymity fuels crime.

"It is illogical that, with retail crime at such high levels, there is no specific law addressing the use of face coverings to conceal identity while committing theft. Behind every shoplifting incident is a small business absorbing the cost.

"This is not a silver bullet, but it will send a clear message to the casual shoplifter," he said.

Speaking on the Fianna Fáil podcast Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, former Garda Crime Prevention Officer and security consultant Michael Walsh said the Covid-19 pandemic had significantly changed the retail crime landscape.

"Covid changed the whole landscape of retail crime. When people hide their identity they feel anonymous, and that anonymity lowers the risk of being caught," Mr Walsh said.

"In crime prevention we talk about risk versus reward. When the risk of getting caught drops, crime increases, and unfortunately that is what retailers across the country are experiencing."