Making stolen goods too hot to handle

Our specialist business crime officers have visited convenience stores across Maldon as part of their campaign to make stolen goods too hot to handle within the retail sector.

Together with our licensing officers, they are working to prevent thieves from being able to sell shoplifted goods to shops, stores and other licensed premises in Essex.

Since 1 January our officers have made a total of 304 arrests for shop theft*, with

200 of them charged with a total of 582 counts of shop theft, while 21 were charged with assaulting a retail worker, too.

On 17 March 2025, officers visited convenience stores in Maldon to sign up the retailers to their Operation Pedlar scheme. 

Operation Pedlar looks to remove the financial incentive for thieves and, therefore, remove the benefits of theft. If one store is known to buy stolen items, then stores nearby are likely to suffer from thefts.

Business crime officer PC Mike Lee says:

“Our Responsible Retailer agreement asks business owners and retail staff to share information with us about people who offer them stolen goods.
“The majority of small stores are law-abiding but we want to reduce the opportunities for thieves to sell on their goods and make shoplifting a less attractive proposition.
“By signing up, they confirm that they buy stock from legitimate sources only. We provide them with public awareness posters which make it clear to their customers and to people who might be tempted to offer them stolen goods that they are not interested.
“Additionally, we’re reminding retail staff they have the power to refuse entry to people who do so and they can remove them from the premises.
“By working with retailers to tackle shop theft from different angles, we can help to make our neighbourhoods better places to live, work and visit.
“If you know of any stolen goods being resold in stores, you can report it to us online. If you can, please remember to add the phrase ‘Op Pedlar’ to your report.”

Our business crime officers work with our licensing officers to deter stores from selling stolen goods on licensed premises.

If a licence-holder is suspected of doing so then, alongside any criminal investigation, our licensing team will seek the revocation of a premises licence to sell alcohol if there is evidence to do so. In some cases, this may mean a licence is suspended ahead of any hearing.

* Arrests for shop theft. This relates to the number of arrests our officers have made. A person may have been arrested more than once for theft from a shop during the time period. And they may have been arrested for more than one offence.

For information about our Business Crime Team and specialist business crime prevention advice, visit our Business Crime Team pages.

The Essex Police Responsible Retailer agreement:

1. Agree to buy stock from legitimate sources.
2. Agree to prominently display public awareness and staff guidance posters highlighting the business as a responsible retailer and that no goods will be purchased from visitors.
3. Understand that retail staff have the power to refuse entry and remove unwanted persons from their premises.
4. Agree to share any relevant information with police regarding people selling or buying stolen goods.

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