EYE-OPENING new figures have exposed the most crime-ridden supermarkets in Irvine - and revealed that more than 1,500 offences have been recorded at stores in the area in the last six years.
The data, obtained via a Freedom of Information request to Police Scotland, has shown that almost two thirds - 979 - of all crimes noted at seven selected premises since 2019 relate to shoplifting.
During this time period, covering up to October 31 this year, a total of 1,591 incidents have been brought to the attention of officers.
Statistics show that two particular stores have been the most crime-ridden, accounting for almost half of the reports.
The greatest impact in the past six years has been on one of the town's largest shops - Tesco at the Riverway retail park.
A total of 458 crimes have been reported from the store during this time. Of these offences, 253 relate to shoplifting with the remaining incidents in relation to other matters.
However, on a more positive note for the supermarket, shoplifting appears to have dropped dramatically in the first 10 months of this year, with only 19 matters raised compared to 94 in 2023.
Asda at the Rivergate Shopping Centre has also seen a significant number of offences reported since 2019, totalling 331.
Unlike other locations, other offences are more numerous than matters of shoplifting at the store.
This type of theft - which has seen a decrease from a peak in 2022 - has been reported from Asda on 144 occasions over the past six years, compared to 187 other offences.
Other matters raised include reports of assault, threatening or abusive behaviour and one matter this year of 'urinating'.
Many of the town's other larger supermarkets have also seen a vast number of recorded crimes over the period covered.
Aldi on East Road has seen 243 offences raised since the beginning of 2019, a majority of which (153) relate to shoplifting which at the moment is down year-on-year.
Sainsbury's on Ayr Road has seen incidents brought to the attention of police on exactly 200 occasions during this period.
Shoplifting is the most common offence, recorded 137 times, although this year's figure of 11 is much lower than the total of 30 last year and 45 in 2022.
Back in the Riverway retail park, the M&S store in the area is the only shop in the town which has already seen an increase in shoplifting this year compared to last.
A total of 120 crimes have been recorded at the supermarket since 2019, with a majority relating to shoplifting.
Offences of this nature have been reported on 97 occasions - with almost half of this figure accounted for by 41 reports in 2022 alone.
Neighbouring store The Food Warehouse has seen the lowest reported crime in the town, with police recording 51 offences since 2019.
Of these matters, 28 relate to shoplifting which has never reached double digits in any of the past six years.
And it was not just larger supermarket chains which have been severely crime-hit over the years.
The Co-op store on Townfoot in Dreghorn has also seen a significant number of matters raised to police.
A total of 188 crimes have been reported from the store, almost 90 per cent of which relate to shoplifting (167).
The chain's branch in neighbouring Kilwinning has been the most crime-ridden shop in the town.
Figures show 153 crimes were recorded at the Main Street store with 128 matters relating to shoplifting.
The only other major shop in the area, Tesco, on the same street, has seen around half of this figure with 80 recorded crimes.
This is broken down to 53 incidents relating to shoplifting and 27 matters of varying other natures - which includes two fire-raising incidents last year.
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