POLICE say they are tackling a sharp rise in food theft as families struggle to make ends meet.
Officers say financial pressures are forcing previously law-abiding people to turn to shoplifting to feed themselves and their families.
Food theft rose by 40 per cent in April, with the city centre, Holderness Road and Hessle Road named as hotspots.
Sergeant Robin Danby, of Riverside neighbourhood policing team, said: "There has been a noticeable rise in shop theft, with food and other essential items making up a significant part of it. It is part of a national picture that, because of financial constraints, people are stealing basic essentials to live.
"We have been asking shoplifters when we arrest them why they have done it and many have said they have stolen to eat the food themselves because they need to."
Rising unemployment, changes to benefits and increasing food and fuel costs are putting pressures on family budgets.
Official figures show that, between December and February, there were 253,000 people out of work in Yorkshire and the Humber region.
In parts of north Hull, there are more than 50 people chasing every job vacancy.
The controversial "bedroom tax", which meant almost 5,000 households in the city lost an average of £14 a week, came into force on April 1.
Sgt Danby said more hard-up families are also buying food that has been stolen, creating a market for shoplifters.
"We are seeing ordinary people buying stolen goods because they are having to tighten their belts," he said.
"They would never consider themselves as thieves or dishonest people, but when someone offers them a jar of coffee that would normally be £5 for £2, they say yes.
"This creates demand and the number of thefts increases. We have intelligence which suggests stolen foodstuffs are being sold in licensed premises and other places.
"Commonly, this will be high-value products such as meat, cheese and coffee, which people would normally pay a lot for in the supermarket."
Figures reveal shoplifting in Hessle Road rose by 50 per cent in April, compared with the same period last year.
In the Myton area, which covers the city centre, thefts were up by 11 per cent.
Traders in Hessle Road set up a Shop Watch scheme earlier this year, which allows business owners to talk to each other and the police over a radio system.
A similar system is in place in Holderness Road.
Donna Finn, chairman of the Hessle Road Traders' Association, said: "It is really shocking to know how much it has gone up by, but it is a sign of the times.
"Something has got to be done about it. There isn't enough work for people out there and their benefits are getting cut.
"We know people are struggling and everyone wants something cheaper, but it is hard enough for businesses at the minute without people stealing.
"We are trying to deter it and I think the radios are making a difference. I dread to think what it would be like without them."
To crack down on shoplifting, officers are carrying out extra patrols in badly affected areas and have introduced cardboard cut-outs of police officers into stores, including Tesco in St Stephen's shopping centre.
Sgt Danby said: "At a time of financial constraint, we need to do all we can to help our retailers."
Have you seen our new homepage?Bookmark hulldailymail.co.uk for the very best and exclusive local content.
