Bromley (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A police crackdown on shoplifting in Bromley led to the arrest of prolific thief George Nicholson at Bromley Magistrates Court on February 13, 2025.
Over the course of six days, plainclothes police officers encircled the Anerley Co-op, preparing to attack robbers, after being inspired by a similar operation at Co-op on Carlton Parade, Orpington.
When a hooded man entered the store around noon on Wednesday, February 12, and started packing his bag with more than £50 worth of soft drinks, the police did the sting operation.
Apart from the CBO, Nicholson was given a one-year conditional discharge and mandated to pay a £26 fee and £80 in related expenses.
Soon after, 35-year-old George Nicholson was placed in handcuffs and taken the next day to Bromley Magistrates’ Court.
Nicholson received a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) that prohibited him from entering any Tesco stores in Penge or any Co-op stores in England and Wales.
Inspector Michelle Pryal said:
“We’re trying to deal with the constant offenders at this Co-op in Anerley. We’re being hit quite hard in this area.
Our aim is to detain the main offenders. We’ve got a list of the main offenders here and what we want to do is not only to deal with them from a criminal nature but also involve our colleagues in the drug addiction team to try to divert offenders into help for their possible addictions, which is often why they’re committing these offences.”
The same sting resulted in the arrest of eleven additional shoplifters.
One of the plainclothes policemen conducting the sting operation at the Co-op was Inspector Michelle Pryal.
Despite being one of the safest boroughs in London according to statistics, Bromley is not up to par when it comes to shoplifting, since the crime rate is 20% higher than the national average.
Shoplifting is common in Bromley, according to local retail employees, and some say it makes them quit their jobs.
According to Detective Superintendent Luke Baldock of the Bromley Borough Neighbourhood Policing Team, shoplifting is a serious offense for his officers.
He said:
“Retail crime negatively affects businesses, employees and the wider public, often fuelling other crime and anti-social behaviour.
Those involved are not just shoplifters, using threats, intimidation and violence, they are also often involved in wider criminality such as motor vehicle crime and drug use – which significantly impacts our communities.
By taking a data led approach and utilising the latest technology, we’re able to target the most prolific criminals, working alongside our various partners to bring them to justice and provide them with the support they need to turn their lives around.”
He added that they are already seeing reductions in shoplifting offences across Bromley with improved confidence in policing from local stores.
In the past two months alone, They have more than doubled the number of people charged with shoplifting offences (56) compared to the 23 we recorded back in October 2024.
Three individuals received community resolution orders, which are frequently used to redirect criminals in situations where it is not thought to be in the public interest to prosecute, while two of the twelve persons arrested at the Anerley Co-op received cautions.
Paul Berhane, 50, of Naseby Road in Croydon, has already entered a guilty plea to stealing and received a six-week suspended sentence.
Ryan Currell, 36, of Palace Road in Bromley, David Desborough, 43, of no fixed home, Darren Kilby, 56, of Bridgewood Close in Bromley, and Louise Chaffe, 36, of Wynell Road in Lewisham, were all charged with theft and are scheduled to appear in Bromley Magistrates’ Court in the upcoming weeks.
What other measures are being taken to combat shoplifting in Bromley?
Through programmes like “Cuppa with a Copper” events, the Bromley Safer Neighbourhood Teams are actively interacting with the community. These gatherings foster trust and motivate locals to report questionable activity.
To improve attempts to reduce crime, police are collaborating closely with neighborhood organizations like Neighbourhood Watch.
Initiatives like the Pegasus project, which attempts to enhance intelligence sharing between police and shops, are part of the national Retail Crime Action Plan. If this is embraced locally, it would be advantageous.
Residents can learn how to protect themselves and their property by participating in public awareness initiatives. Theft can be avoided, for instance, by following advice on protecting valuables and exercising caution in busy places.
Identification and prosecution of shoplifters can be facilitated by the use of CCTV and digital evidence management systems. Across the country, facial recognition technology is being used to detect repeat criminals.