Our officers secure more than 320 shop theft charges in a single month

We’re actively tackling shop theft – our officers have secured more than 320 charges of shop theft and six charges of assault on retail staff in the past month.

Many of the 84 people charged during September will have appeared in court the following day. Some will also have been sentenced after admitting their guilt.

In the past two years, our officers have made more than 2,800 arrests* for shop theft across Essex.

Business Crime Team Sergeant Christian Denning explains that, thanks to swift investigations by our local and neighbourhood policing teams and co-operation from the stores affected, our officers also solved 67% more offences during the same period – solving 1,627 more shoplifting offences in the 12 months to 31 August 2025, compared with the year to 31 August 2023. 

He says:

“Securing more than 320 charges** in a month shows we’re actively tackling shop theft. A lot of this is down to the fact that people are increasingly more willing to report shop theft to us.
“Retailers are providing us with good quality CCTV footage and witness statements which mean we can secure charges quickly and, when they appear in court, they have no choice but to plead guilty because of the strength of the evidence against them.”

Working closely with retailers

Our Business Crime Team is a dedicated team of officers who work with retailers to reduce their susceptibility to shop thefts by advising on crime prevention, building security and staff safety.

They also look at ways of speeding up the gathering of evidence – before CCTV is recorded over or witness memories fade. Earlier this year, the force’s Rapid Video Response (RVR) team of police officers expanded their remit to include incidents of shop theft where a suspect has been arrested.

Christian explains:

“The arresting officer will obtain the details of a member of staff who knows what happened, can provide a witness statement and, hopefully, provide us with good quality CCTV footage of the incident and who has a device which can receive a secure video call from one of our RVR officers.”

This allows the arresting officer to take the detainee straight to custody while the RVR officer takes statements and ensures CCTV footage is preserved.

Named shop theft suspects can also now be summonsed directly to magistrates’ court in certain circumstances without the need for arrest or interview. 

Christian says:

“To be able to do this, officers will need good quality CCTV footage of the offence taking place with a clear image of the offender or a suitable witness statement.
“But if it is likely the suspect will contest their case, has no home address, is a persistent offender or there are aggravating factors, such as an assault, then this process isn’t suitable for them.”

Last month in court

In September, a prolific shoplifter from Southend has been jailed for two years and three months for a string of shop thefts, involving around £3,000 of food and drink.

He had admitted 28 counts of shop theft and 28 breaches of a court order banning him from all Co-op stores and BP garages in Essex. The criminal behaviour order was extended by five years.

A 38-year-old Basildon woman was charged with stealing more than £2,500 of goods on 21 occasions from shops in the town and breaching a court banning order forbidding her from entering any BP in Essex and a local Morrisons Daily store.

While a 46-year-old man from Enfield was charged with 33 shop thefts in Brentwood, involving more than £1,220 of meat and other items. He is also charged with 30 counts of breaching a ban on entering one of the stores.

* 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.

** Shop theft charges. This figure will not be the total number of shop theft charges which will be secured against people arrested during a specific time period.

While many are charged before being released from custody immediately following their arrest, some suspects will be released under investigation or bailed while officers continue investigating.

When an investigation is complete, a suspect may be charged or may have no further action taken against them.

So, the stated figure will not include charges which are secured beyond the end of the stated time period.

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