A new report says shoplifting has risen amongst young Dutch women, and now they are just as likely to steal as young men.

Five years ago, men between 18 and 25 were more likely to shoplift, committing 59% of crimes, but last year the figures were 50:50.

But men in general are still more likely to rob stores, committing 58% of overall crimes last year, according to the report published by the Detailhandel Nederland trade organisation. The average thief is 39 years old, although a quarter are over 50.

The figures come from the organisation’s action ‘settle the score with shoplifters’, which pays out €181 to members reporting theft, and has settled claims for more than €2.5m. Membership is free for retailers, and 25,000 shop owners who had made a claim were surveyed.

‘Emancipation is coming quicker here than with other crimes,’ Bert van Steeg, secretary of Detailhandel Nederland, told the Nos. ‘We would like to see more provision for financial compensation for retailers in criminal law. The penalty imposed by prosecutors for shoplifting is disappearing, but the law needs to adapt so that retailers are always compensated, meaning they will be more likely to report shoplifting and have increased confidence in the authorities. A win-win situation.’