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Law enforcement has dismantled a shoplifting ring by employing synthetic DNA technology to trace more than 5,000 items stolen from various stores.
This innovative operation conducted by Scotland Yard focused on a group believed to be trafficking stolen goods to sell at reduced prices in local corner shops.
More than 100 police officers executed raids on eight retail locations where it was suspected that stolen food and alcohol were being acquired, primarily sourced from major retailers like Waitrose and the Co-op.
To facilitate their investigation, officers marked 5,000 items with synthetic DNA, which contains unique chemical signatures capable of linking back to these supermarkets.
This marks the inaugural use of such technology in a police operation, resulting in the apprehension of 15 individuals, including an alleged leader of the gang, aged 48, and his 43-year-old wife, at their residence in an affluent neighborhood in south London.
Many of the suspects were shopkeepers potentially facing charges related to handling stolen merchandise. Among those arrested was a 64-year-old man suspected of possessing a Taser, and another man aged 39 who was thought to have a machete.
The operation stemmed from extensive planning, where police collaborated with retailers to discern patterns of theft and analyzed crime reports. Officers marked frequently shoplifted items such as alcoholic beverages and confectionery utilizing SelectaDNA, a system designed to incorporate unique DNA codes onto property.
This distinctive marking enables police to trace stolen items back to larger retail stores, allowing the collection of additional evidence through measures such as reviewing surveillance footage and obtaining victim impact statements for prosecution.
During the raids, police uncovered several store-brand products exclusive to specific supermarkets being sold in corner shops.
The crackdown coincides with a notable escalation in shoplifting incidents, which reached an unprecedented level in the year leading up to June, with 469,788 offenses reported—a figure that represents an increase of nearly 29 percent compared to the prior year’s total of 365,173, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This alarming rate averages out to over 9,000 incidents weekly, translating to 1,290 events daily. Based on typical operating hours of UK shops, this means that there are over two shoplifting incidents occurring every minute.
These statistics indicate the highest annual shoplifting rates since records began in March 2003. Retailers are sounding the alarm, noting that the surge in thefts adds at least 6 pence to every transaction for retail customers. The British Retail Consortium estimates that thefts cost the industry £1.8 billion annually, along with an additional £700 million allocated for enhanced security measures.
Sgt. James Burke, who spearheaded the operation, commented: “Shoplifting inflates costs for consumers and often leads to abuse of retail staff. It also promotes the drug trade and contributes to broader issues of anti-social behavior and violence in communities.”
He added, “Local officers have dedicated months of effort, working hand-in-hand with affected businesses to implement novel strategies aimed at curbing theft. The success we’ve seen is commendable.”
“The Metropolitan Police is determined to focus on those orchestrating such criminal activities. By disrupting their operations, we are optimistic that we can reduce incidents of theft and alleviate the negative impacts on communities throughout London.”
Among those arrested, three women aged between 39 and 45 and ten men aged 23 to 64 were taken in on suspicions of handling stolen goods and have been released on bail while investigations continue.
In addition, two other men, both aged 48, were separately apprehended on similar charges and have also been released on bail.
Authorities hope that these new approaches will bolster conviction rates, given the robust quality of the evidence obtained. Recent Home Office data indicates a nearly 20 percent increase in unsolved shoplifting cases over the past year.
There were almost 270,000 shoplifting cases closed without a suspect being identified in England and Wales during the year ending September 2024, reflecting a 19 percent rise compared to the preceding year.
Source
www.yahoo.com