The long awaited World Shoplifting Championship is to go ahead in March after terms have finally been agreed between businesses, participants and various police forces. Regional or individual country competitions will begin on March 1st 2026 with the finalists converging on London for a final week of thievery in the run up to Christmas.
THE OVERALL WINNER WILL RECEIVE 1 MILLION BRITISH POUNDS
Business will be refunded for any losses by the competitions main sponsor TikTok while the athletes will be able to take home anything they successfully steal. The overall winner gets 1 Million British Pounds and immunity from any previous charges not yet heard in court. Police have agreed to not prosecute any participant in exchange for all the footage which they plan to analyse with the intention of discovering how the best of the best get away with it.
The championship is made possible by the sheer number of online cameras in every city and in every shop which enables the organisers to track every movement of the WSC and stream it to viewers who have paid a fee.
TOP ATHLETES
Spokesperson for the WSC Edith Nobleston said “We’ve worked hard to bring this event to the world. It’s about time the abilities of these top athletes are recognised. They are out there every day honing their skills, now everyone will witness what a true professional can achieve with hard work and determination.”
Asked if she thought it was ethical she said “Of course it is, we are simply making what happens everyday anyway into a legal and fun competition. It’s like boxing, people fight on the streets all the time which is wrong but put a ring around them with cameras and it’s a title fight, nothing different here.”
Participants must work alone with the exception of young mothers who will be allowed to use a pram and a child under 3.
