The cost-of-living crisis is a major factor in the increase in shoplifting across Medway with some cash-strapped families resorting to stealing milk formula to feed their babies.

That’s the stark message from Charlene Malone, manager of the Pentagon shopping centre and chairman of Chatham Town Centre Forum.

The cost of infant formula has soared over the last two years with the cheapest brand up by 45% and the average tub costing £14.50.

The trend is reflected nationally with more people stealing out of necessity rather than to sell on expensive sought-after items like meat, alcohol, fashion and sportswear.

Mrs Malone was speaking after a week-long campaign in which Medway police and the Safer Medway Partnership (SMP) joined forces to create awareness about the issues of shoplifting while delivering advice on the best way to deal with the problem.

She said: “Shoplifting is a national issue which has changed because families are under financial pressure.

“Our staff at the Pentagon are trained to deal with situations, to deescalate and communicate.”

With this in mind, the centre works closely with charities such as One Big Family and Gillingham Street Angels which support vulnerable people.

She said: “Chatham is unique in that it has a regular passing trade with many coming to the town every day.

“So these charities and our staff recognise the same faces and may be aware of what they might be going through.

Mrs Malone said: “We are aware of financial hardship here which is why we keep prices to things like the grotto reasonable.

“We are charging £7 a child to visit our grotto this year - not everyone can afford £21 per child as they charge in other centres.”

Mrs Malone said she was aware that traders made advantage of the Safer Medway Partnership’s communication network alerting colleagues of shoplifters.

But others did not report thefts to the police.

She said: “Some say they don’t have time or they can’t be bothered to fill out forms and notify 101. But it is important as the police do respond.”

Lee Richman, manager of D&A Toys which has been in the Pentagon for 47 years, said shoplifting was “part and parcel of the job”.

His business is targeted between 15 to 20 times a month and there is a spike in the run-up to Christmas.

He said: “It has changed over the years. People are desperate.

“I’m pretty hot on it but police are only interested if it’s worth more than £200, and the CPS tend not to prosecute.

“What they don’t realise is that items stolen worth £10 add up.

“They did take somebody to court who stole a £100 paddling pool and he was asked to pay back £3 a week. He changed his name and that was it.

“I don’t have sympathy for those who steal from my shop. If they came to me and said I’m desperate, I’d think about it.”

Kent Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott joined the team in Chatham as part of the action week.

He spoke to traders and shoppers and agreed to meet them to discuss matters in-depth.

During the campaign, 158 calls were made to businesses by 58 police officers. They made six arrests, carried out four stop searches and gathered four important intelligence reports.

SMP manager John Brice said: “The week was a great success for the partnership which represents about 200 businesses.

“It highlighted the problems facing traders and gave them the confidence that those involved in trying to deal with the issues are working with them.

“By co-operating with each other, it gave them the feeling that they can make a difference.

“It demonstrated the importance of working with the police who play a major role in tackling the rise in shoplifting.”