The fight against rogue retailers across London has led to the arrest of 42 people and closure notices issued for 11 shops, during a two-week crackdown on the resale of stolen goods.
Around 400 shops suspected of buying and reselling stolen goods were visited by officers from the Met as part of the operation. From expensive cosmetics and electrical goods to food products, tens of thousands of pounds worth of suspected stolen stock were seized.
Ahead of the operation, months of joint work between the Met, retailers and Trading Standards helped identify rogue businesses suspected of buying and selling stolen goods.
Retailers also highlighted the products most frequently targeted by thieves. These items were marked with SelectaDNA, a forensic marking solution that leaves a unique traceable code, identifiable under UV light.
This enables officers to link recovered goods directly back to the stores they were stolen from.
Intelligence shows that prolific shoplifters are stealing to order from major high street retailers, targeting specific products requested by those buying and reselling stolen goods.
These 'shopping lists’ help fuel the organised criminal supply chain.
Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes said:
“Honest retailers have been clear that they want action against the minority of rogue businesses that fuel retail crime, undercut legitimate traders and damage confidence in our high streets.
This Met operation has done exactly that, targeting those who create a market for stolen goods and profit from criminality.
“Over the last two weeks, Met officers have targeted every stage of the criminal chain, from prolific shoplifters stealing to order through to the shop owners buying and reselling stolen goods.
Tens of thousands of pounds worth of suspected stolen goods have been seized, shop owners arrested and businesses closed down.
“Those results send a clear message: if you profit from retail crime, you will be arrested. Working alongside partners such as retailers and Trading Standards, we will use every power available to disrupt this criminality, protect honest businesses and make London's high streets safer.”
The operation also targeted car boot sales suspected of being used to sell stolen tools. Activity in Hounslow led to three arrests, with officers seizing five pallets of suspected stolen tools as well as counterfeit Dyson products.
For the first time, the Met has also issued warning notices to car boot sale organisers, making clear they could face criminal liability if they knowingly facilitate or ignore the sale of stolen, counterfeit and illicit goods at their events.
During the rest of the two-week deployment:
Whilst conducting a licensing check at a shop in Lewisham on Monday, 19 October, officers identified suspected stolen Tesco tinned mackerel being sold. Further searches led to the recovery of a machete as well as suspected stolen passports and driving licences being stored in a sweet tin. Two suspects were arrested for offences including handling stolen goods and possession of offensive weapon.
- Two arrests were made following a licensing check at a retail premises in Clapham, on Sunday, 19 October. Officers recovered branded meat products from Sainsbury, Coop and Iceland to the value of £1,000, two knives and large quantity of Class B drugs.
- £15,000 in cash and 300 suspected stolen mobile phones were seized following a warrant executed alongside Trading Standards in Hounslow on Monday, 12 October. Two men were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods, and a three-month closure order was granted for the store.
- Dozens of suspected stolen mobile phones and more than £5,000 in cash were seized during a warrant at a mobile phone shop in Brixton on Monday, 19 October. Three men were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and money laundering.
- 10 bottles of Boots suncream and three bottles of M&S wine were recovered during a licensing check at a store in Southall on Monday, 12 October. One woman was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
"Our world-class retailers, high streets and town centres attract millions of visitors from across the UK and around the globe. Backed by record investment from City Hall, I'm pleased the Met is working closely with retailers and partners to disrupt every part of the shoplifting chain.
“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. The lead up to Christmas is vital to London's economy and we must do everything we can to prevent criminals exploiting busy shopping periods and inflicting so much misery on our hardworking business owners and staff.
That's why the Met is stepping up action against the most prolific offenders, using new technology to link offences across stores and locations, identify repeat offenders and build stronger cases for prosecution.
“Thanks to intensified action by the Met and its partners, the number of shoplifting offences being solved has doubled, leading to 1,800 additional arrests. But there is more to do, and I will continue working with the police, retailers and local partners to make London a no-go zone for shoplifters and build a safer city for everyone."
This operation is part of the Met’s continued work to tackle retail crime. Across London in 2025, shoplifting fell by 3.7 per cent, around 3,500 fewer offences, while positive outcomes for shoplifting investigations doubled.
Investment in new retail crime reporting technology has strengthened efforts to identify and target prolific offenders. In boroughs where the system has been introduced, positive outcomes have quadrupled this year.
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Tesco UK Shrink and Security Director, Rachel Bennett, said:
"As one of the UK's largest retailers, we see first-hand the impact retail crime can have on colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Tesco has been at the forefront of efforts to tackle the issue, working alongside the Metropolitan Police and other partners to improve reporting, share intelligence and support enforcement action.
“This operation is a powerful example of what can be achieved through that collaboration, helping to drive retail crime out of communities and creating safer environments for everyone."
Association of Convenience Stores Chief Executive, Ed Woodall, said:
“We fully support the Met’s efforts to shut down those selling stolen goods in the capital, and need to continue disrupting the illicit networks that steal from legitimate retailers, prop up dodgy shops, and engage in a long list of other criminal activity. Responsible local shops remain committed to doing their part by investing thousands in each store on crime prevention and detection measures to ensure the police have the evidence they need to take action.”
Director of UK Sales & Business Development at SelectaDNA, Clair Frame, said:
“Operation Zoridon continues to go from strength to strength, and its success comes down to collaboration. Retailers share what they’re seeing on the shop floor, officers turn that into targeted action, and we support both with deployment of SelectaDNA solutions to mark stock, which is vulnerable to theft, as well as detection through the use of our SelectaDNA search dog.
This joint approach has delivered positive results, both in disrupting the outlets that handle stolen goods and in rebuilding retailers’ confidence that reporting and sharing actionable intelligence makes a difference. We’re proud to be part of it and keen to work with more retailers nationally to bring the same approach to communities across the UK.” |
