In Shortlands, London, shopkeepers like Balu Baskaran are increasingly frustrated by a 54% rise in shoplifting incidents, feeling powerless against offenders who brazenly steal. Despite having CCTV, local police are perceived as ineffective, prompting shop owners to share suspects' images on social media. The situation escalates to the point where staff lock themselves inside to protect their inventory. Conversely, police initiatives like Operation Kelleher aim to tackle persistent shoplifters by focusing on repeat offenders and enhancing prosecution chances, indicating a potential shift in law enforcement approach to deter such crimes.
"They just come in, they just take the stuff, and they just walk out, as if it's their shop." Balu Baskaran describes the brazen behavior of shoplifters.
Shoplifting in London rose by 54% last year compared with 2023, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Although the small shop has a cluster of CCTV cameras, he says the police have not taken action, so he's taken to sharing images of the suspects on social media.
Under Operation Kelleher, officers from the Safer Neighbourhood team in Orpington focused on 13 repeat offenders, asking local shops to keep the CCTV from each incident.
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