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A man who was caught in the act during a Met Police operation to tackle shop theft in south London has been jailed.

Neighbourhood officers in Lambeth carried out a targeted sting at a Co-op store in Lower Marsh on 27 January after several reports of theft from the store.

After reviewing recent crime reports, they arrived early and waited in the back office where they monitored CCTV cameras.

At around 8.30am a man entered the store and began ransacking the meat chiller. He was immediately detained and arrested, said Metropolitan Police.

Derick Bell, 36 and of no fixed address, was charged the following day and appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of shoplifting. He was jailed for eight weeks.

Inspector Darren Watson, from the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Lambeth, said: “This is an excellent example of how the Met is taking a targeted approach to tackle the type of offending that matters most to Londoners.

“We know shoplifting has a significant impact on businesses and shop staff. It often also fuels other crime and anti-social behaviour.”

Working with local businesses, Watson and his team have jailed 11 out of the 14 most prolific shoplifters in Lambeth in the last month.

“We will continue to take action against those who cause misery in our communities,” added Watson.

In response to the crackdown, Premier retailer Nila Patel wrote on LinkedIn: “Welcomed very much. I hope this is adopted by other borough forces.”

Derbyshire retailer Dee Sedani also thanked the initiative: “Thank you, finally someone cares to help us independent retailers of this horrible crime that happens day in day out”.

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