Paisley charity boss is "not surprised" that people have turned to shoplifting to get by

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Paisley charity boss is “not surprised” that some desperate people, including families, are resorting to shoplifting in order to make ends meet during the cost-of-living crisis.Some people, in order to feed themselves and their families, have started stealing food and other basic necessities as they struggle to pay their energy and grocery bills.Latest figures from Police Scotland show that shoplifting has risen to 2,189 in 2022 from 1,706 in 2021 - an increase of 28 per cent. Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire.

Sign up to our newsletters here. Sharon McAulay, chief executive of Star Project, said: “I’m not condoning breaking the law by any means but who knows what any of us would resort to if we couldn’t feed our children and felt desperate!"Many families are already struggling and it’s only going to get worse.

Based on the average household energy use, families will need an income of over 35.5k, after housing costs, to avoid being plummeted into fuel poverty this October.”There have been some concerns that due to the rise in energy prices, people who have never committed a crime, may look to do so in such desperate measures.Renfrewshire Live, the new free app dedicated to bringing you around the clock breaking news, is now available to download.Powered by the Paisley Daily Express, Renfrewshire Live is your go-to source for news, features and sport with live coverage provided direct to the app, seven days a week.The dedicated team of experienced journalists, responsible for the publication of the