Officers fail to arrest on-the-run shoplifter walked into police station by private detectives
Police failed to arrest a prolific shoplifter who had allegedly not turned up for a magistrates court hearing even though private detectives walked her into a police station, the Telegraph can reveal.
The woman, who has 96 convictions for shoplifting, had allegedly failed to appear for a court hearing in Croydon, south London, where the private detectives’ employer, TM Eye, was prosecuting her for a further shoplifting offence. A warrant issued for her arrest was enacted this week when TM Eye’s detectives spotted her and made a citizen’s arrest.
As no Metropolitan Police officers were available to attend, the private detectives took her to a police station to be formally arrested for the offence of failing to appear at a court hearing.
However, they were told no officers were available to deal with the case, despite “numerous officers walking in and out with their food,” said David McKelvey, a former Scotland Yard detective chief inspector and founder of TM Eye which provides retailers with private detectives who apprehend and prosecute shoplifters.
“Nearly two hours later I personally spoke on the telephone to a PC who was covering the front desk. He was likewise too ‘busy’ to arrest this wanted suspect, who simply needed to be taken into the custody suite and a short statement made. He stated that no supervisor was available.
“The decision was therefore made to release the suspect back on to the streets. No doubt that shoplifter will be back on the streets tonight or tomorrow stealing.”
The shoplifter failed to attend a second hearing on Wednesday.
The Met Police said it was investigating what happened but admitted the account could undermine confidence in the force’s efforts to combat shoplifting.
It claimed it was not realistic to expect it to respond to every case of shoplifting, despite government ministers’ demands for police forces to investigate all crimes if there is a reasonable line of inquiry.
A Met Police spokesman said: “We are aware of this incident and are reviewing the details to establish the full circumstances. We acknowledge that the events described in this post will negatively affect the confidence of shop workers when it comes to reporting offences to police.
“We would reiterate that while it is not realistic for the Met to respond to every case of shoplifting, where a crime is being committed and a suspect is on scene, we would urge people to call police – our call handlers will assess the incident and dispatch officers where appropriate.”
Nationally, shoplifting offences recorded by police forces have hit a record high. Between January and March, more than 100,000 such thefts were recorded, the first time this threshold has been crossed in a three-month period for 20 years.
The figures, which equate to 1,100 reported crimes a day, are a 37 per cent increase on the previous year. However, separate figures show that the proportion of shoplifting offences resulting in a charge or other criminal sanction has plummeted from 47.5 per cent to 18.7 per cent since 2016.
Shoplifting costs retailers £1bn a year
The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which estimates shoplifting cost nearly £1 billion in 2021/22 said stores spend a further £700 million on measures to combat theft and assaults on workers. The number of incidents has doubled since the pandemic level, to 867 a day, it added.
TM Eye has successfully prosecuted some 280 shoplifters. It initially specialised in investigating and prosecuting counterfeit and fake goods rackets and claims it has brought more than 500 successful prosecutions working with police forces internationally, the FBI, and Federal Drugs Administration (FDA) in five years.
It launched My Local Bobby two years ago to provide residents, companies and shops with neighbourhood policing to combat thefts, criminal damage and other anti-social behaviour.
Its “bobbies”, who wear magenta vests and caps, provide cover 24/7 for up to 250 houses and businesses on each beat for a fee and the company promises they will be at the scene of an incident within five minutes.
The alleged shoplifter was operating in Streatham, south London, where My Local Bobby provides services to a business improvement district. She is alleged to have been caught going equipped to steal and shoplifting from Boots and M&S in Streatham High Road, SW16, in July.
She was carrying scissors in her backpack when arrested, according to the warrant.
