Local Shoplifting Update

Local Shoplifting Update

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

Officers were on the ward yesterday, this resulted in one male being arrested by PC Nicholls for 23 counts of shoplifting. This was then handed over to our shoplifting investigation team who established a further 6 offences had been committed totalling over £8500. He has now been remanded to court to appear today 27/10. Whilst on patrol a second male has then been stopped for no insurance his vehicle has now been seized and he was wanted for failing to appear at court. He was arrested by PC Mercer and remanded to appear at court today 27/10.

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.

We want your help to shape the future of policing across London. We are seeking your views on our new inclusion strategy to ensure that the Met is a police service that is trusted, representative and more effective at keeping London safe. You can have your say on our Inclusion Strategy consultation which runs until Thursday 26 November.