Operation Marigold: A dedicated crackdown in the Walsall borough that has achieved a 30.5% reduction in shop thefts by targeting repeat offenders.

Winter of Action: A region-wide initiative involving high-visibility and plain-clothes patrols in shopping hubs like Birmingham city centre, Wolverhampton, and Dudley to deter thieves during peak periods.

Project Phoenix: A partnership in Walsall using private security guards and council-funded patrols to protect independent retailers where police presence is limited. 

Facial Recognition: WMP is increasingly using facial recognition software to identify prolific offenders from CCTV footage.

Civil Bans (CPWs): For the first time, a Community Protection Warning (CPW) has been used to ban a prolific shoplifter from multiple major shopping centres (including the Bullring, Merry Hill, and The Fort) and all Next stores across England and Wales.

Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs): Officers are successfully applying for court orders to ban problem individuals from specific retail areas entirely. 

The 3-to-5 Second Rule: Greet every customer within 5 seconds of entry. Shoplifters are less likely to steal if they know they have been acknowledged by staff.

Crime Mapping: Identify "hotspot" aisles in your store where thefts frequently occur and improve visibility or staff presence in those areas.

Reporting: WMP has launched a Reporting Quick-Guide for retail staff. Reporting every incident—regardless of value—is essential for building legal cases against prolific thieves.

Partnerships: Businesses are encouraged to join a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) to share real-time intelligence on active offenders via the DISC app.