'If shoplifting was a sport, I'd be a gold medallist'

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Shoplifting offences in England and Wales have risen to the highest level in 20 years and those that represent retailers say some of that is being driven by a worrying new trend - unscrupulous shops buying stolen goods from shoplifters to sell on. In this episode of 5 Minutes On, BBC reporter Jim Connolly has spent some time with Ross in Leeds. Ross describes himself as a former 'gold medal' calibre shoplifter. Up until recently, he stole around £300 of goods a day to fund his crack and heroin addiction. He's got 23 convictions, 15 of those for shoplifting, but has never been to prison. He says he was getting the help he needed, and didn't have a choice. (Credit: BBC)