{"id":458793,"date":"2025-10-23T13:56:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T12:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=458793"},"modified":"2025-10-23T13:56:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T12:56:18","slug":"watch-met-police-raid-london-shops-in-largest-ever-crackdown-on-organised-shoplifting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/south-london\/watch-met-police-raid-london-shops-in-largest-ever-crackdown-on-organised-shoplifting\/","title":{"rendered":"WATCH: Met police raid London shops in &#8216;largest ever crackdown on organised shoplifting&#8217;\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>The Metropolitan Police raided 120 stores across the capital last week, including two in South London, in their crackdown on shoplifting gangs reselling stolen items, <em>writes Megan Norcott&#8230;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"69Tc1xsyiWVI72OkGnRtzdjq3ZaHUuS8CNF\"><div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe title=\"Met Police release video of their arrests across London for shoplifting\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/D66xv7SLw78?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CCTV and body camera footage shows Metropolitan officers arresting people in their citywide crackdown on shoplifting gangs. Credits: Metropolitan Police.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Thousands of stolen electronics, branded food and other items have been recovered under Operation Zoridon, with 32 people arrested for the handling of stolen goods, drug offences or immigration violations.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The raids conducted on 14 and 16 October came as shoplifting offences in London rose to nearly 90,000 last year, marking a 54 per cent increase from the 57,301 recorded in 2023.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, responded to the raids by pledging to deploy 3,000 more neighbourhood officers.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtNDkyMTUzNjkzIiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtY29udGVudCBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50IiBzdHlsZT0ibWFyZ2luLWxlZnQ6IGF1dG87bWFyZ2luLXJpZ2h0OiBhdXRvO3RleHQtYWxpZ246IGNlbnRlcjsiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC0yeDEiPg0KPHNjcmlwdD4NCmdvb2dsZXRhZy5jbWQucHVzaChmdW5jdGlvbigpIHsgZ29vZ2xldGFnLmRpc3BsYXkoJ2Rpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxJyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgICAgICAgPC9kaXY+<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking about long-term plans to combat shoplifting, policing and crime minister, Sarah Jones, said: \u201cFor too long shop workers have been devastated by theft and abuse, with prolific offenders stealing at will believing they are above the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;This stops now. The government is putting more officers on the streets and arming them with new powers, including a new offence for assaulting a retail worker and scrapping the \u00a3200 limit on shop thefts being investigated.\u201d<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjExODE2MzI3MSIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"552\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0808-1-1000x552.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458810\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0808-1-1000x552.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0808-1-500x276.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0808-1-768x424.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0808-1-260x143.jpeg 260w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0808-1-750x414.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0808-1-1140x629.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0808-1.jpeg 1171w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Metropolitan police officers seize stolen goods. Credit: Metropolitan Police.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One Bromley store targeted by officers was found to be selling more than 150 stolen items, including LEGO sets, earphones and speakers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luxury watches and \u00a370,000 in cash were also discovered at an address related to the shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Almost all items seized in the raids are suspected to have been taken illegally from high street retailers with thieves \u2018stealing to order\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shop owners buying the goods often know that they have been stolen, selling them for a discounted price and pocketing the profit.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzUzNjY2NjE4MiIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0811-1000x560.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458815\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0811-1000x560.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0811-500x280.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0811-768x430.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0811-260x146.jpeg 260w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0811-750x420.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0811-1140x638.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0811.jpeg 1179w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Metropolitan Police arresting suspects as part of Operation Zoridon. Credit: Metropolitan Police,<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Operation Zoridon\u2019s lead officer, Superintendent Luke Baldock, said: \u201cShoplifting is not a victimless crime and the gangs involved are organised and have links to drugs and violence.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRogue shopkeepers who trade in stolen goods are funding criminal activity and driving up costs for everyone. They\u2019re keeping thieves in business at the expense of hard-working, law-abiding retailers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Woolwich store targeted by the Met Police had \u00a350,000 worth of gaming consoles hidden in a secret compartment, with 2,000 mobile phones also stashed in a concealed basement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another shop in Willesden was found with around \u00a31,500 worth of items believed to have been stolen.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These included Starbucks travel mugs, umbrellas from Waterstones and branded children\u2019s toys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"994\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0812-994x560.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0812-994x560.jpeg 994w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0812-497x280.jpeg 497w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0812-768x433.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0812-260x146.jpeg 260w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0812-750x422.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0812-1140x642.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0812.jpeg 1163w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 994px) 100vw, 994px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bodycam footage of police officers taking part in Operation Zoridon. Credit: Metropolitan Police.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Investigators were able to identify businesses and organised crime groups involved in shoplifting operations by using a unique synthetic liquid called SelectaDNA painted on commonly stolen goods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marking the origin of the goods, the liquid helped trace stolen items taken from major retailers, and police hope it will strengthen evidence for prosecutions.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people arrested as part of the operation have already been bailed out, with Supt. Baldock adding: \u201cWe will now need the support of the courts to secure longer closure orders and shut down these illicit shops for good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>James Lowman, the chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores said he welcomed the Met&#8217;s action and would like to see other forces around the country strengthen their approach to stopping shoplifting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More than 300 officers took part in Operation Zoridon and nine stores were issued with closure orders following the raids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Featured image credit: Metropolitan Police<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"jKIaYEVFL5LcAyhJzHCYmnUXQHSTU7DjFgTI166qKvDrZpZBk8eQ91EPuwNRn4VsGk9mv7atOBO2\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"PfKrIkadt2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/london\/southwark-third-worst-for-phone-theft-in-london-amid-met-crackdown-on-suspected-international-phone-smuggling-ring\/\">Southwark third worst for phone theft in London &#8211; amid Met crackdown on suspected international phone smuggling ring<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Southwark third worst for phone theft in London &#8211; amid Met crackdown on suspected international phone smuggling ring&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/london\/southwark-third-worst-for-phone-theft-in-london-amid-met-crackdown-on-suspected-international-phone-smuggling-ring\/embed\/#?secret=wGFbwHZ0JJ#?secret=PfKrIkadt2\" data-secret=\"PfKrIkadt2\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Metropolitan Police raided 120 stores across the capital last week, including two in South London, in their crackdown on shoplifting gangs reselling stolen items, writes Megan Norcott&#8230; Thousands of stolen electronics, branded food and other items have been recovered under Operation Zoridon, with 32 people arrested for the handling of stolen goods, drug offences [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18930,"featured_media":458806,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"Thousands of stolen goods, luxury watches and \u00a370,000 in cash were seized as part of Operation Zoridon"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"9635"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[15702,13541,13539,15239,13602,9635],"tags":[3417,18317],"class_list":["post-458793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bromley","category-crime","category-featured","category-greenwich","category-news","category-south-london","tag-crime","tag-shoplifting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/458793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18930"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=458793"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/458793\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/458806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=458793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=458793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=458793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}