Changes have been made to stores across London (Image: Getty)
Greggs is making a major change to stores in 14 areas.
A new system will be introduced to one of Britain’s favourite stores in 14 boroughs of London to crackdown on shoplifting.
The change has been implemented by the Metropolitan Police and allows retailers to submit CCTV footage, witness statements and other evidence directly to officers, the force said.
The software has helped detectives track, arrest and build cases against offenders more quickly, as officers who used to have to wait up to 28 days – or even longer – for CCTV footage can now get it in minutes.
Greggs is among several retail giants using the tech, including Tesco, Boots and Marks & Spencer.
The Met said that when the new system was used, there was a caution, charge or other criminal disposal in 29.4% of cases – compared with the average of 7.3% before it was introduced.
The change is a crackdown by the Met on shoplifting (Image: Getty)
Chief Inspector Rav Pathania, the Met’s lead for business crime, said the tool is helping the force identify shoplifters more quickly and bring more of them to justice.
“Tackling retail crime remains a top priority for the Met,” said Mr Pathania.
“Reported shoplifting offences across London are down by almost 4%, but we’re not taking our foot off the pedal as evidenced by this continued use of new tech.
“Shoplifters should be under no illusion – we are increasing our capability to catch you and put you before the courts.”
The system is currently being used in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley.
From Tuesday the force will expand it to retailers in Southwark, Lambeth, Sutton, Croydon, Bromley, Hillingdon, Ealing and Hounslow.
Recent cases in the capital have seen people caught for shoplifting thousands.
A teenage boy went on a shoplifting spree worth more than £100,000 at Boots and Holland and Barrett and was spared jail by a magistrate at Highbury Corner Youth Court in May, when he was told to seize the opportunity to turn his life around.
In June, Michael Belgrave, 55, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Ealing Magistrates’ Court to nine months imprisonment and made subject to a five-year criminal behaviour order (CBO), the Met said, after stealing more than £4,000 worth of goods from shops including Greggs and BP.
The five-year CBO bans him from entering any branch of Holland and Barrett, Greggs or BP across England and Wales.
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