Local Shoplifting Update

Local Shoplifting Update

You raised shoplifting as a concern, so here’s a quick local update.

On 04/10/2026 at 1410 hours, officers from Sydenham and Bellingham SNT arrested a male for shoplifting offences that occurred at the Sydenham Road Boots and the BP on Bromley Road. This male had stolen over £3000 worth of goods over the last month. This male had been circulated as wanted and he was spotted on Southend Lane crossing the junction of King Alfred Avenue in Bellingham behind our car. The male tried to evade officers and we engaged in a foot chase which resulted in officers capturing him after a two-minute chase. PC Haque of Sydenham SNT then arrested the male for multiple shoplifting offences and for breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order due to entering the Boots and BP that he is prohibited from by order of court. Officers are confident that the male will be given a custodial sentence due to his offending history and how prolific of an offender he is. We will update you with the outcome of this report when we can.

The Met is cracking down on street crime, like shoplifting, people doing drugs and phone-snatching. 

We’ve put hundreds more officers on the frontlines of community crime-fighting teams, upping visible patrols in the right ‘hot spots’ so we can deter and catch criminals.

We’re now arresting more than 1,000 extra criminals every month and seeing ‘neighbourhood crime’ down 14%.

But we know there is more to do. That’s why we’re stepping up our use of technology, increasing our operations and working with retailers to make it less appealing for criminals to commit these crimes in the first place.

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.