Eleven arrests have been made as part of a regional policing operation targeting an organised group of shoplifters.
Nottinghamshire Police teamed up with officers from across the East Midlands for two days of enforcement action last week.
A series of simultaneous warrants were executed in Broxtowe, Nottingham – firstly on Thursday and then on Friday (14 and 15 August) too.
Officers from Nottingham’s City West were joined on the eight raids by police colleagues from Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.
Specialist regional teams swooped to arrest 11 suspects, as a direct result of Operation Brasas, which was led by Derbyshire Constabulary.
All were suspected of having a role in a series of high-value shoplifting offences across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire, between December 2024 and August 2025.
Some of the suspects were additionally arrested in relation to drugs offences, weapons possession and making counterfeit currency.
Officers discovered significant amounts of items suspected to have been stolen from shops, including clothing, footwear and toiletries.
Weapons including lock knives, a knuckle duster, sheath knife and an extendable baton were also recovered, along with cocaine, cannabis and drug dealing equipment.
Here is a full rundown of all the arrests made:
- Six women, aged 32, 19, 19, 57, 23 and 63, were all arrested on suspicion of theft, and involvement in organised crime
- A 39-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of theft, involvement in organised crime, possession of crack cocaine, possession of an offensive weapon in a private place, and making counterfeit currency
- A woman, aged 27, was arrested on suspicion of theft, involvement in organised crime, and possession of amphetamine
- A 45-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of theft, involvement in organised crime, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, and possession of an offensive weapon
- A 17-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of theft and involvement in organised crime
- A woman, aged 35, was arrested on suspicion of theft
All 11 suspects have been bailed with conditions as the investigation continues.
Inspector Gordon Fenwick, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“While most shop thefts are carried out by people from those areas, we know organised groups exist that cast their nets out a bit wider.
“When it comes to this type of organised retail crime, these thefts aren’t limited by county borders, with certain criminals targeting entire regions.
“Last week’s activity aimed to target several individuals suspected of being involved in one such group that plagued shops across Nottinghamshire and neighbouring counties.
“Working collaboratively with colleagues from across the region, collectively we took proactive action in executing warrants at several local properties, which secured critical evidence, as well as a large number of arrests.
“Repeated shoplifting causes real harm to local businesses and the wider community, while it’s also unfair on those who follow the rules and spend their hard-earned money on their shopping.
“As I’ve said, most shop thefts are carried out by local, repeat offenders, who do it to fund drug or alcohol addictions, so we do a lot of work in Nottinghamshire to deal with the root causes of these issues and help offenders turn their lives around.
“When they don’t want to engage, however, we will use all the powers at our disposal to make it as difficult as possible for them to operate.
“The same goes for anyone involved in an organised retail theft group, who we will not hesitate to take robust action against, should they try to target businesses in our area.
“The public rightly want to see the police taking proactive action in regards to those who cause serious harm within communities, and within Nottinghamshire, we remain committed to delivering an outstanding service we can be proud of.”
Detective Sergeant Jesse Conquest, of Derbyshire Constabulary, said:
“The purpose of the enforcement action has been focused on targeting criminals committing organised retail crime impacting four counties.
“Organised retail theft is not a victimless crime. It’s estimated to have cost the UK £1.8 billion last year alone.
“Whilst a single shop theft may appear minor, the cumulative impact is significant – driving up the cost of everyday goods for honest customers and placing immense pressure on retailers.
“In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, organised criminals are not only driving up prices, but also reducing consumer choice and, in some cases, forcing businesses to close. At the same time, these groups are profiting from those which are most impacted from these crimes.”
He added:
“We as the police need to work together with retailers and the public to disrupt and dismantle these criminal groups because protecting our shops means protecting our communities.
“I hope we have sent a strong message to criminals as well as providing some reassurance to victims that if you commit crime, we will pursue you and we will hold you accountable.
“This investigation, carried out in collaboration with our colleagues in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Staffordshire, as well as retail partners, demonstrates that there is nowhere to hide.”
