How national chains are helping in the fight against retail crime

National chains have teamed up with police to lead the fight against retail crime.

Two prolific shoplifters have been jailed after security staff at the Boots CCTV Monitoring Centre in Beeston, Nottinghamshire contacted police with reports of criminality.

The first, a 22-year-old man from Ashford, was jailed for two years after 19 connected reports were made.

He later admitted stealing items worth more than £60,000 from Boots, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Co-op stores in Surrey, Thames Valley, Kent, London, Cleveland, Cheshire and Durham.

Just a few months later, staff at the hub worked with officers once again to secure a conviction for a 25-year-old man from Slough.

The suspect, who stole items worth £34,000 during a six-week spree, targeted nicotine, healthcare and cosmetics products from Boots, Tesco and Co-op stores across the south-east.

He was arrested at Harwich International Port trying to flee the country under a false identity and sentenced to 22 months in prison.

How does the CCTV hub work? 

The Boots CCTV Monitoring Centre receives hundreds of alerts a day from its UK shops. Staff can press alarms for central support and live monitoring if they have suspicions about a customer.

The facility features 18 screens displaying live CCTV feeds, while a team of security specialists respond in real time, either taking over a store’s loudspeakers to deter shoplifters, or warning the suspect that they’re being watched.

Police are also notified.

In Surrey, 30 of the county’s 36 Boots stores have reported an incident to Auror, a crime reporting network connecting retailers and local police forces, in 18 months.

The top stores to report are in Walton-on-Thames and Farnham.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend made a visit to the hub during the summer of 2025 to learn more.

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