Local Shoplifting Update

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

We arrested a prolific shoplifter who was wanted for failing to appear at court in relation to numerous offences. The individual was located at a flat that was not their registered address, we believe they had been exploiting the vulnerable residents after the council had received reports that "cuckooing" was taking place. Working in partnership with the council, we assisted with the eviction of those who shouldn't be at the property and ensured it was secured to prevent any further access after we had left.

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.