Local Priorities Shoplifting Message

I wanted to provide you an update regarding Shoplifting, which members around this area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the Met Engage priority survey.

On Thursday 26th February Douglas McCallum was arrested for the Offence of Theft from Boots the Chemist on Haverstock Hill having been caught in the act by plain clothes officers from Kentish Town South, shop staff identified him as the suspect for another offence a few days earlier so he was also arrested for this offence, he was charged with both thefts and remanded in custody but was then bailed by the court for 7 days to prepare for a trial, he failed to appear and was therefore wanted, being apprehended on Friday 12th March.

He attended Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday 14th March where he was sentenced for 3 offences, these were that he stole various items of deodorant , to the value of £50.80 belonging to Boots, also that he stole various deodorants , to the value of £226 belonging to Boots and that he failed without reasonable cause to surrender to custody at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court, having been released on bail. He was sentenced to a total of 30 weeks in prison for these 3 offences.

Due to the prolific nature of his offending Camden Town Safer Neighbourhoods applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) in an effort to prevent future offending and to safeguard our local retailers and their staff. McCallum is a prolific thief and just since November he has committed offences in Gospel Oak, Hampstead Town, Camden Town, Belsize, Kentish Town South and Bloomsbury.

We are pleased to say that the court granted his CBO and for a period of 3 years he is not to enter any Boots the Chemist, Holland and Barrett, Sainsburys or the Co-op in the London Borough of Camden. If he breaches this CBO he is liable to face a maximum sentence of up to 5 years as opposed to the maximum sentence of 6 months that he would generally face for shoplifting.

Shoplifting is a crime that can have a substantial negative impact on local businesses across London. If you notice anything suspicious or witness anyone shoplifting, please report it as soon as possible. These reports are invaluable in letting us build a picture of when and where shop lifters operate, meaning we can be in the right place at the right time to arrest those responsible. 

For more guidance, see our page on how to spot a shoplifter.

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