People need to change their perception of shoplifting and be educated about the harm it causes, the manager of a crime-prevention firm said.
Retailers Against Crime (RAC) works with Police Scotland to reduce offending against shopkeepers and businesses.
On Tuesday, they took part in a special Day of Action in Glasgow city centre.
Their goal was to target criminals and reassure the public ahead of the Christmas period, which always sees a jump in thefts.
"They get threatened with violence by people carrying weapons.
"The aim of the day was to tackle shoplifters. What it shows to them is that we're working together.
"Shoplifting has become an epidemic and everybody is affected by it."
RAC works with police forces across the UK. They share information, CCTV images and help each other identify prolific criminals.
According to Stephanie, people are not aware of the impact shoplifting has on society.
Figures by the British Retail Consortium show that theft caused £1.8 billion of loss to the UK economy in 2022/23.
"Prices are going to go up. Your weekly shop will go from £70 to £95, I'm seeing that.
"If we make people more aware and change how people class shoplifting or how it's perceived, then I think we're onto a good thing.
"The way forward is education, I really believe that. And it's not just children's education."
She encourages people to keep an eye out and support police officers by reporting shoplifters.
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The manager added: "Most people in stores go about with the blinkers on because they're thinking about what they get for dinner but it's happening all the time.
"It's seriously affecting the economy and we don't need that. There's more than enough stuff affecting the economy as it is at this moment in time.
"We need the backing of more people and we need to keep on going for it, knocking on the government's door."
From next year, the Day of Action will take place quarterly in Glasgow to continue the crackdown on shoplifting.
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