Major retailers on London's high streets are using new technology from the Metropolitan Police to catch shoplifters.
It allows them to submit CCTV footage, witness statements and other evidence directly to officers within minutes, allowing the biggest force in the country to track, arrest, and build cases against offenders more quickly.
Tesco, Boots, Marks & Spencer and Greggs are among the retail giants already using the tech, which they access via subscription, across several London boroughs, including Westminster, Hammsersmith and Fulham, and Greenwich.
From today, the rollout is being expanded to retailers in Southwark, Lambeth, Sutton, Croydon, Bromley, Ealing, Hounslow, and Hillingdon.
Chief Inspector Rav Pathania, the Met's lead for business crime, said: "Shoplifters should be under no illusion – we are increasing our capability to catch you and put you before the courts."
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The Met says shoplifting is down by almost 4%, but several of the retailers involved in the force's crackdown have previously warned it's getting worse.
In April, Marks and Spencer's retail boss said crime is "more brazen, more organised and more aggressive" and accused the government and London mayor of not taking it seriously enough.
"I keep hearing crime is falling, especially in London – something none of us believe, and very few people working in retail would see," said Thinus Keeve in a letter on the retailer's website.
Boots has also been a notable target. Earlier this year, a 17-year-old boy was spared jail after stealing more than £100,000 worth of goods from the health and beauty chain.
Greggs has gone so far as to remove display counters from some of its stores because of a rise in shoplifting.
The Met is hoping the expanded rollout of its new tech will help the fightback. It said that when the system has been used, there was a caution, charge or other criminal disposal in 29.4% of cases – compared to 7.3% before.
Last year, figures showed more than 80% of shoplifting offences resulted in no charge.
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