Organised criminals targeting Surrey’s shops for razors and Champagne are being brought to justice, the Police and Crime Commissioner said after a TV show following a Force investigation aired.
Lisa Townsend said fragrances, alcohol and chocolate are among the items that are “stolen to order” to fund criminal activity.
It comes after the Force appeared on Channel 5 show Police Interceptors. The programme followed officers as they investigated three members of an organised criminal group responsible for more than 100 crimes.
The offenders targeted large supermarkets across the country, with the cost of their thefts totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Organised criminality
Officers worked with Tesco to crack the case, and all three criminals were jailed last year.
Since January 2024, officers have worked with Tesco to tackle four OCGs responsible for losses totalling £2.5million across their stores.
Overall retail crime ‘solved rates’ – a term which refers to successful outcomes including charges, summons, community resolutions and cautions – have risen by 20 per cent since 2023.
Retail crime is a key priority for the Force, and last year, officers committed to a new retail crime strategy. That strategy has been shared as part of a wide-ranging report into retail crime, published by the Commissioner following a survey of Surrey’s business community.
‘Prolific’
Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Members of the gang who featured in last night’s episode of Police Interceptors were not only prolific, but organised.
“They targeted high-value items that are easy to sell on, including electricals, cosmetics, Champagne and razors.
“Offending committed by groups like these fuel further crime sprees. It harms not only Surrey’s retail community, but all residents.
“We will all have seen that perfume, cheese, coffee, alcohol and now even chocolate bars are often being locked away in anti-theft boxes at supermarkets.
Chocolate locked away
“These are among the items stolen to order by gangs who sell them on through illicit markets that help fund wider criminal activity.
“We are determined to deal with the offenders behind this behaviour.
“Here in Surrey, officers have brought down several organised criminal groups responsible for raiding businesses across the country.
“There is more to do, but I am proud of the progress that continues to be made as our policing teams work with retailers, investigate offending thoroughly, and bring criminals to justice.”