CHRISTMAS is a time for giving, but for some it is also a time for taking and while it is easy to feel sorry for shoplifters who fall foul of the law because of poverty, or because of mental health difficulties, it’s less easy to sympathise with professional gangs who make theft a career choice.

According to retailers, York appears to be a target for such gangs and there has been a near 22 per cent increase in city centre shoplifting since last year. This is of concern, not only for traders, but for law-abiding consumers who end up paying through higher prices.

Then there is the problem of pickpocketing, also being on the rise, which is why we support York Business Against Crime (YBAC) in its efforts to tackle these problems and we encourage other traders to sign up.

Encouragingly, detection rates for shoplifting appear to be increasing, but as YBAC chairman Sue Anderson-Brown tells us, the increasing figures show why we need to fight back, especially over the busy Christmas and New Year period.

But the battle will only be won if it is continued throughout the year. To win will require vigilance and intelligence sharing, which is why we believe YBAC's call for a united response can help to drive down these issues.

Working together we must make it known that York has a zero tolerance to crime and with a bit of luck that will make these gangs think twice about targeting our shops.