Category Archives: Shoplifting

The Derby Telegraph carries a story of a sweet-toothed shoplifter who stole over £400 of chocolate from the same store in Derby in just three days.

Luke Austin walked into a One Stop store in Sinfin, on June 3, filled his rucksack with £80 of chocolate and left.

The Daily Star reports that gangs of thieves have cashed in on police cuts to put shoplifting at a five-year high, with retailers saying that crooks are becoming ever more brazen.

With thieves walking out of shops with trolleys full of stolen goods, store chiefs believe shoplifters think they are unlikely to be arrested.

The Yorkshire Times gives details of a joint operation between West Yorkshire Police and BACIL (Business Against Crime in Leeds) to run a day of action to tackle shoplifting in the city centre.

Known as ‘Operation Balmton’, the manoeuvre consisted of police officers, PCSOs and plain clothed security officers working together in teams.

As reported in The Sun, a woman was caught stealing from supermarkets after staff recognised her from the Channel 5 show, Benefits By The Sea.

Sarah Jammeh took £30 of Sainsbury’s meat and £70 of chicken from a Tesco in Clacton, Essex.

A story in the Burton Mail gives details of two top cops in Derbyshire saying that supermarkets must do more to deal with shoplifting.

The pair – police and crime commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa and chief constable Mick Creedon – think supermarkets could work with the police more to reduce the problem of shoplifting at a time when the force has more to deal with and fewer officers to solve crimes.

The Gloucestershire Live website reports that a branch of Waitrose in Stroud has resorted to stationing security guards at the main entrance of the store in a bid to combat shoplifters.

A county crime expert said that while he could not comment specifically on Waitrose’s move, certain items are targeted by shoplifters because of their high value, relatively small size, and the ease with which they can be passed on.