Police are continuing the fight against shoplifting in a Nottingham neighbourhood after a suspected thief was charged.
Officers from the City South neighbourhood policing team have recently introduced a new initiative to combat the issue in Clifton which combines high-visibility patrols and covert security.
Patrols by uniformed officers are taking place regularly around hotspots for retail crime to provide reassurance to staff and shoppers.
Officers from the team arrested a suspect for two thefts after he was seen acting suspiciously outside the Savers store, in Southchurch Drive, Clifton on Tuesday at around 2:15 pm.
The man was found in a street nearby with packs of medication discovered close to him.
Florin Babica, aged 34, of Sparbrook, Birmingham, has been charged with two shop thefts and is due to appear before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 20 October 2023.
In a separate incident, officers arrested a woman who was seen behaving suspiciously in Lotus Close, St Ann’s, and found meat which had earlier been stolen from the Co-op store in Mapperley.
During a search of the suspect, officers also found pliers, bolt croppers and screwdrivers. She was also observed to swallow a small package which is believed to be Class A drugs during the incident on Wednesday at around 6.45pm.
A 48-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of theft from a shop, possession of Class A drugs, going equipped for theft and a Bail Act offence.
Inspector Steve Dalby, neighbourhood policing inspector for Clifton, said:
“I’m pleased our new approach is already yielding some excellent results. Officers are finding themselves in the right place at the right time to make important arrests.
“Shoplifting can have an impact both on businesses and the wider community and we will continue to take measures to tackle the issue.”
A similar operation in nearby Sneinton has seen a 42 per cent decrease in shoplifting offences.
