New police team set up to tackle shoplifting in Waterlooville and Havant is huge success
The Retail Crime Team has solved almost half of all shoplifting crimes reported since it began
A new police team has been set up to tackle shop lifting in Waterlooville, Havant and the surrounding areas.
The Retail Crime Team was set up in August to focus on supporting shop workers and local communities in areas with high rates of shoplifting, and so far has proven to be a great success.
Since the crime team was set up, over 49% of all reported crimes have been solved, an 130% increase on the same period last year.
“Shoplifting has been an issue for years and years,” said Sergeant Colin Webb. “There were shops just outside the police station in Waterlooville that were getting targeted daily, but it got to a point where the demand versus our resources meant we couldn't necessarily get to every single shop, or review it all.
“We started looking for prolific offenders and really tackling them, so we wouldn’t get them for one shop lift of low value items but would have a member of staff who was like that person’s contact officer, who would monitor their crimes.
“So then, rather than having them in front of a magistrate for something really low value, you've got 10 or 15 offences that then are put to the courts to show ‘look, this person is clearly causing the issue.’ Then they were actually going to prison instead of getting a community order.”
Since the team was set up, they have started formatting readable reports about offenders that can be easily shared across police, custody and court teams to ensure that all offences are taken into account.
One such example of a serious offender being apprehended by the team is the case of Aaron Lawson, 36, who was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on 25 September for 16 shoplifting offences in Waterlooville.
Sgt Webb said: “We've had two of our massive problem shoplifters go away for a year, and that's in the matter of weeks. They're costing shops thousands and thousands of pounds, not only in the stock they've taken, but in the time it takes for their staff to actually report it to us.
“We send out some of our police community support officers and they go around and speak to the shops. They're not waiting for a crime before we go see them, they’re just building that relationship with shops.
“There is this myth about ‘you won't arrest people if it's only a couple of quid’. Well, some of the prolific shoplifters, I've charged with less than a fiver's worth. Because it paints that big picture, not just waiting for him to get £1,000.”
The Retail Crime Team apprehended serial offender Jimmy Andrews, 30, who was sentenced to one year in prison for 10 theft from shop offences, stealing a total of £107.25 worth of items.
The team also undertakes preventative works, including setting bail conditions banning offenders from going to town centres and civil orders that make it an offence for previous offenders not to leave a shop when asked. There can even be enforcements that mean that previous shoplifters have to use trolleys when inside a store.
Even though the team is still in the trial stages, Sgt Webb says the community response to the crime team has been brilliant.
“The shops here, they absolutely love it,” he said. “The store managers are really pro. They've set up a WhatsApp group, so they know when people are about and they're messing with each other. It has improved the relationship between big stores and even independent stores, so it's quite nice, the fact they're all looking out for each other, and they're telling us as well.
“Shoplifting affects everyone. Retail workers are often subjected to challenging and sometimes threatening behaviour, businesses suffer significant losses, and communities feel the consequences through increased prices and the impact on local shops.
“Please continue to report incidents of shoplifting to us. Every report matters, and where offences are committed, we will pursue all available opportunities to identify offenders, build evidence, and seek prosecution.”
The MP for Havant, Alan Mak said: “Tackling shoplifting and anti-social behaviour is a top priority for me and I have called on police commanders to allocate more officers and resources locally.
“I’m pleased the police are making good progress, and I will continue supporting them to make our streets and communities safer for residents and no-go areas for shoplifters and other criminals”.