TWO SHOPLIFTERS put on their balaclavas and made for the Co-op store in Homerton High Street, Hackney, just before Christmas last year. But it was bad luck for the two thieves: police were watching on CCTV.
The surveillance was part of a proactive operation aimed at tackling high levels of shoplifting in the area. And it paid off for the police as they watched what was happening. The two men were arrested and charged, and taken to court.
Donovan Soloman, 37, of Avenue Road, Beckenham, appeared at Wood Green Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage. He was sentenced to ten months in prison. It emerged that Soloman had four previous convictions for theft.
Lee Moise, 38, of Croylnd Road, Edmonton, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage. He was sentenced to twelve months in prison. He had ten previous convictions for theft.
Inspector Mohammed Uddin, from the neighbourhood policing team in Homerton which had been carrying out the surveillance operation, said, “Across the Met we’re focussed on tackling the most prolific shoplifters as we know the feare they cause retail worker s and the negative impact their offending has on communities.”
The Homerton Neighbourhood Team has apprehended six prolific shoplifters in the past seven months and have seen each of them given prison sentences.
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