Dramatic CCTV footage of police officers pouncing on a prolific shoplifter as he tried to escape with his loot from a crime-plagued store in south London has been released.
New Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes visited Bromley town centre to hear about a series of undercover sting operations being carried this summer to tackle the scourge.
It came as Britain’s second most senior policeman revealed he recently helped colleagues arrest a thief stealing wine from a shop near his home while off-duty.
In his first interview since promotion, Mr Jukes said the Metropolitan Police had listened to victims who feel “retail crime isn’t under control”.
During their fightback, hooded George Nicholson, 35, targeted a Co-op in Penge unaware detectives were lying in wait following daily acts of pilfering.
They watched on security cameras from a staff room as he casually filled his large black holdall with over £50 worth of soft drinks before making a dash for the door.
But Nicholson is stunned to then be surrounded by four plain-clothes officers, two of whom had been outside. He was swiftly detained and handcuffed.
Eleven more shoplifters were arrested as part of the same sting at the business on Anerley Road - one of Bromley borough’s most targeted.
Nicholson has been given a three-year criminal behaviour order banning him from all Co-ops in England and Wales as well as a Tesco near his flat in Croydon Road, Penge.
Latest monthly Met figures show 102,083 shoplifting offences were recorded in the year to May, an annual increase of 41.9 per cent.
The epidemic is estimated to cost the capital’s retailers £16.8m every month.
Mr Jukes said he understands the frustration felt by many and had carried out his own citzen’s arrest in London, adding to the Standard: “I was in a convenience store in my local area when an individual was clearing the shelves and a member of staff tried to do their best.
“We’re never off-duty. I put myself in a position to take care of that moment but what we really want to celebrate is that across London in neighbourhoods this summer my colleagues are doing that day in day out.
“We’ve listened carefully to businesses, both big international businesses who want to put their premium stores in the centre of London and businesses in town centres. We’ve also listened to residents who feel retail crime isn’t under control.”
Superintendent Luke Baldock, in charge of Bromley’s neighbourhood policing, said analysis in one area shows just 13 offenders were behind 80 per cent of retail crime.
Supt Baldock explained in addition to sting operations, officers are building the largest possible case files against perpetrators to secure harsher sentences and criminal behaviour orders.
When key suspects are removed, police see other offences drop such as staff subjected to racist, sexist and homophobic abuse and violence. Vehicle crime and burglary to feed drug habits also goes down.
Supt Baldock said: “What we do is work with local stores and say ‘right, we need everything you have on this person’. It’s gathered together and we charge them with 15 or 20 offences. Rather than them going to court for having stolen £50 of meat, we are actually putting these people through for something like £3,000 or £4,000 worth of thefts.
“We can prove they are prolific to secure longer sentences and criminal behaviour orders. It’s a really effective way of getting to grips with the problem.”
He said his blunt message to shoplifters is: “Don’t bother coming to Bromley. We will track you, find out what you’re doing, prosecute for multiple offences and put you in prison.”
High Streets UK is calling for ring-fenced funding for police to protect leading shopping destinations including Oxford Street.
It wants immediate jail terms for those who breach criminal behaviour orders, quicker sentencing for crimes linked to retail and a focus on organised crime.
Chair Dee Corsi said shoplifting is devastating to the UK’s global reputation, putting tourism and investment in jeopardy.
Meanwhile, a new way for Londoners to receive updates directly from local officers is being rolled out as part of the force’s focus on local policing.
Met Engage will provide communities with crime prevention advice, local events and meetings, and details on ongoing investigations.
A spokesman said every borough now has an additional 500 staff - ranging from superintendents to police community support officers - to understand and act on concerns about crime, including shoplifting or anti-social behaviour.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley added: “Every day, officers and staff across the Met are out tackling the crimes that really affect people – things like shoplifting, phone theft and burglary.
“Their crime-fighting is making a difference and we’re seeing large reductions in these types of offences in London.
“But real progress means more than just numbers going in the right direction – it means working with communities, not just policing them.
“Met Engage is about having a two-way conversation. It’s a way for people to stay informed with precise local updates, to tell us what is most important to them and to challenge misinformation. It’s about shaping policing together and I would encourage everyone to sign-up.”
