South London Co-op thief arrested as Met say retail crime is 'spiralling out of control'

This CCTV footage shows the shocking moment a shoplifter was caught in a targeted Metropolitan Police operation in south London, following multiple reports of theft from the store.

Derek Bell, 36, was caught on camera in the Lower Marsh Co-op ransacking the meat chiller on 27 January.  

That same day, the Metropolitan police arrived at the supermarket early and waited in the back office, monitoring CCTV cameras.

When Bell began raiding the meat fridge, the officers immediately detained and arrested him.

Bell, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty the following day to two counts of shoplifting at Croydon Magistrates' Court. He was jailed for eight weeks.

Inspector Darren Watson, from the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Lambeth, said "This is an excellent example of how the Met is taking a targeted approach to tackle the type of offending that matters most to Londoners.

"We know shoplifting has a significant impact on businesses and shop staff. It often also fuels other crime and anti-social behaviour.

"In Lambeth alone, our enforcement activity means 11 of the 14 most prolific shoplifters in the area are currently in prison and we will continue to take action against those who cause misery in our communities."

Retail crime is “spiralling out of control” at more than 2,000 incidents a day, according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

The amount spent on crime prevention is also at a record high, with retailers investing £1.8 billion on measures such as CCTV, more security personnel, anti-theft devices and body worn cameras, up from £1.2 billion the previous year.

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