Retailers blighted by shoplifters issued DIY crime report kits by police

BUSINESSES blighted by shoplifters are being issued with DIY crime report kits by police.

Evidence packs are being sent to stores for staff to provide statements and CCTV footage of offenders.

The Met Police said the evidence will then be reviewed and “if it is adequate, the report will be opened and investigated.”

The kits are part of Operation Retail and will be used where CCTV is the only line of inquiry, suspects are not repeat offenders and no violence or weapon is involved.

They will be sent by email to large chain retail outlets where the thefts are less than £500 — or to smaller shops where the loss is £200 or less.

In other circumstances, cops will carry out their own investigations from scratch. The scheme was launched on July 17.

The Met is only promising to investigate thefts from stores where there is evidence.

Mick Neville, a CCTV security expert and former Met detective chief inspector, said: “Let’s hope the Met use this evidence to identify offenders.”

The scheme is being operated by the Met’s Central West Command Unit covering Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.

A Met spokesman said: “The operation aims to develop strong and efficient relationships between police and retailers.”

The Met stressed that officers will still respond to calls from retailers where urgent police attendance is required.

Last week, the Co-op supermarket chain revealed a record number of shoplifting offences and blamed police for failing to tackle violent gangs of thieves.