В Британии средний класс крадет продукты в магазинах - статья Times с русскоязычными "подсказками"

How the middle class are shoplifting (крадут из магазинов) to keep up appearances (делая вид, что ничего не произошло)

Middle-class shoppers who have been hit by the recession (по которым ударил финансовый кризис) are stealing hundreds of millions of pounds of expensive food in an effort to maintain their high standard of living (в попытке поддержать высокий уровень жизни), according to a new survey (по данным нового исследования).

Quality cuts of meat, fresh fish and high-priced cheeses are being taken by mostly middle-class women from speciality food (деликатесные продукты) and convenience shops, where thefts (кражи) have risen sharply (резко) in the past year. Thousands of retailers have found that luxury foods are being stolen for individual use rather than to be sold on (для личного использования, а не для перепродажи).

The information comes from more than 42,000 shops in Europe with combined sales (общим объемом продаж) of £262 billion, who were questioned (которые были опрошены) by the Centre for Retail Research, an independent organisation.

They found that shoplifting (магазинные кражи) in Britain has increased in the past year by nearly 20 per cent to almost £5 billion, £750 million more than in 2008, keeping Britain at the top of Europe’s shoplifting table (рейтинг по количеству магазинных краж). Clothing and fashion accessory shops were hardest hit, with branded designer goods high on thieves’ shopping lists (причем дизайнерская одежда возглавляет воровской список), closely followed by DIY stores (магазины «сделай сам»).

Neil Matthews, vice-president of Checkpoint Systems, said that he was astonished (поражен) at the rise of middle-class shoplifters. “We are not simply looking at your traditional shoplifters here. We are seeing more instances (случаев) of amateur thieves (воров-любителей) stealing goods for their own personal use rather than ( а не) to sell on than before,” he said.

“This is epitomised (это ярко видно) in the recent uprising (рост/подъем) of the middle-class shoplifter, someone who has turned to theft to sustain their standard of living (тех, кто прибегает к краже для поддержания уровня жизни). I suppose people want to carry on with their lifestyle (хотят продолжать свой образ жизни) but cannot afford (позволить себе) the expensive cheeses, fresh cuts of meat or nice fish that they used to be able to afford (которые они раньше могли себе позволить) and now they just take it. This is the first year we have seen a huge rise (огромное увеличение) in theft of these items (товаров) and we are being told it is for their own consumption (собственного потребления) rather than to sell on.”

He added: “The UK’s retail industry has seen its largest ever increase in shoplifting over the last 12 months, and it comes at a time when the industry can least afford it.” (розничная торговля столкнулась с самым резким за 12 месяцев ростом магазинных краж, и произошло это, когда этот сектор меньше всего может себе это позволить)

The report, which surveyed (в котором исследовано) more than 1,000 retailers worldwide with sales of £514 billion, found that 43.5 per cent of all stock (товаров) that went missing (исчезли) was stolen by opportunistic thieves and organised gangs, but employee theft (хищение сотрудниками) was on the rise (на подъеме/растет). Britain is behind only the Irish Republic in Western Europe for the most dishonest (нечестный) staff.

to maintain high standard of living – поддержать/удержать высокий уровень жизни
to rise sharply – резко возрасти
to increase by 20% - возрасти на 20%
to be on the rise – расти
to go missing – исчезать
employee theft – хищение сотрудниками