Three people have been arrested after £1500 worth of stolen goods were discovered at a c-store in Willesden, London.
The crackdown was part of the Met Police’s largest ever operation targeting shoplifting gangs across the capital, Operation Zoridon.
On 14 and 16 October, officers raided more than 120 shops suspected of buying items stolen from major retailers and reselling them at discounted prices.
Officers arrested 32 people and seized thousands of stolen items including branded food, make-up and electrical devices, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Emergency closure orders were served to nine shops, seven of which were c-stores, the force has revealed.
The store in Willesden was issued a warrant by police after it was believed to be linked to criminal activity.
As a result, officers seized a huge stash of stolen goods, estimated to be worth around £1,500.
Items included Starbucks travel mugs, Lego building sets, umbrellas from Waterstones, shavers, hair straighteners, designer sunglasses, electronic toothbrushes and branded children’s toys.
The store was handed an emergency closure order from the London Fire Brigade.
Bodyworn camera footage shows officers escorting a suspect into a police van.
Superintendent Luke Baldock, from the Met and lead officer for Operation Zoridon, said: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime and the gangs involved are organised and have links to drugs and violence. Rogue shopkeepers who trade in stolen goods are funding criminal activity and driving up costs for everyone. They’re keeping thieves in business at the expense of hard-working, law-abiding retailers.
“During the Met’s largest ever operation to tackle shoplifting, we’ve made arrests, seized stolen goods and issued emergency closure orders. We will now need the support of the courts to secure longer closure orders and shut down these illicit shops for good.”
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