Thames Valley Police figures show robberies of business property increased from 164 offences in September 2024 to August 2025 to 262 offences in September 2025 to August 2026, a rise of 59.8 per cent.
Overall robbery offences across Oxfordshire increased from 390 to 508 during the same period, while robberies involving personal property rose by 8.9 per cent.
Detective chief inspector Jim Holmes said much of the increase could be explained by changes to Home Office crime recording rules, rather than a significant rise in actual robberies.
Under the revised guidance, incidents where a shoplifter uses force or threatens staff while escaping with stolen goods can now be recorded as robbery offences, rather than theft.
Mr Holmes said: “We are committed to preventing business robberies and other forms of retail crime, as well as bringing offenders to justice, alongside our partners as we recognise the impact they have on our communities.”
The force said retail premises account for a significant proportion of the increase, with many incidents involving offenders who steal goods before using verbal or physical threats against staff or security workers who attempt to stop them.
Offences tend to occur during retail opening hours and are often committed when stores are busiest.
Officers continue to target repeat offenders through neighbourhood policing teams and detectives, while a dedicated retail crime team is deployed to tackle patterns of offending.
Most recently, a man armed with a ‘box cutter knife’ entered Tesco Express in Bicester. He demanded the cashier open the tills to take cash before fleeing in an unknown direction.
Adam Whittaker, 44, of Greenfields, Upper Arncott, faces one count of robbery and one count of possession of a blade or sharply pointed article in a public place.
Tesco said the safety of its staff and customers remains its top priority after the victim, who Thames Valley Police say was a 19-year-old man, did not sustain any injuries.
The impact of business crime is something Oxford salon owner Colin Greaney knows all too well.
Mr Greaney, international creative director and one of the owners of Mahogany salon, said break-ins had been a recurring problem since 2010.
Mahogany Hairdressing was targeted on Sunday, June 7 (Image: Alex Carter, Newsquest)
The Little Clarendon Street salon was burgled on June 7 this year, with £500 stolen.
Mr Greaney said: “Over the years, all the salons have been broken into. They don’t steal the irons, they steal the float and the iPad that plays the music.”
There did not appear to be a clear pattern to offending, adding that businesses tended to be targeted every few years rather than repeatedly.
He said: “I don’t think there’s any pattern, but every now and again we just get hit. We will probably be done again in another five years.”
He recalled an earlier break-in around nine years ago during St Giles’ Fair. Security measures, including extra locks, have since been installed.
Police are encouraging businesses to report all offences, maintain effective CCTV systems and review security arrangements including staffing levels, product placement and access controls.
They also stress that staff safety should remain the priority and employees should avoid putting themselves at risk when confronting offenders.
#Robberies #businesses #Oxfordshire #rise #year