Business crime (shoplifting)

Priority initially reviewed and agreed in February 2025. Further reviewed in September 2025 and still remains our local priority.

Small local shops and large retailers/supermarkets lose hundreds to thousands of pounds every week due to theft, which is a major problem across the country.

The quality of CCTV systems have improved considerably in recent years and many shops employ part time/full time security guards to deter any potential opportunists, however this does not stop the most prolific offenders.

Town Centre NPT have been working with local retailers and analysing crime data, which led to identification of top 5 most prolific shoplifters affecting businesses not only in the Town Centre area, but across whole of Weston super Mare.

Investigation into offences committed by these individuals is ongoing as well as background work with local Anti Social Behaviour Team in order to compile evidence package towards ASB interventions available to police disposal in an attempt to tackle their prolific offending.

Actions

• 3 September 2025
  

  Our colleagues from the local Neighbourhood Tasking Team have had a very busy and productive couple of weeks, contributing towards our work around prolific shoplifting. 2 nominals (from our original top 5 of prolific shoplifters in North Somerset) have been arrested for a number of shoplifting offences and recalled to prison after previously being released early on licence.

  Another top 5 offender has also also been arrested and forensically linked to more serious offences. He is likely to receive a lengthy custodial sentence. We will try and provide an update after the court hearing.

  This is a fantastic result and gets to show that crime does not pay.