Undercover police flood City of London shopping district in Christmas shoplifting crackdown

"Undercover police officers are being deployed in the City of London to catch brazen shoplifters in the act at Christmas. Retail crime - said to cost the capital of 16.7million a month - will spike during the festive period. The Standard went out on patrol with Home Office minister Mike Tapp to see how covert units are cracking down on the scourge. Around 10am, a 40-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of theft from Boots on Moorgate."

"Dramatic body-worn footage shows the moment another criminal, Terrance Simonds was caught red-handed by plain-clothed officers after a 4,300 spree at Boots outlets on Cannon Street and Cheapside. He also raided a Tesco on New Bridge Street. Simonds, 38, of Steele Road, Leytonstone, admitted breaching a criminal behaviour order which banned him from entering any Boots store and was jailed for 36 weeks."

"Shoplifting can been seen as a victimless crime but there is a huge cost to both retailers and to the people who use the shops when prices go up. It's incredibly frustrating and we are working really hard with our retailers to try and tackle it. Asked what her message is to offenders, Ch Supt Isaac said: I would say please do not come to the City of London because we will catch you. Just because you can't see officers visibly, it doesn't mean"

Undercover police officers are being deployed across the City of London to apprehend shoplifters during the Christmas period. Retail crime is said to cost the capital £16.7 million a month and is expected to rise over the festive season. Covert units are conducting patrols, making arrests and using intelligence-led hotspot analysis to target areas of crime and anti-social behaviour to make communities feel safer. Notable arrests include a 40-year-old taken from Boots on Moorgate and serial offender Terrance Simonds, who breached a criminal behaviour order and received a custodial sentence. The deployment forms part of a nationwide Winter of Action running December 1 to January 31.

Read at www.standard.co.uk