Met teams up with businesses to catch a serial thief in southeast London

Businesses and the Met team up to catch serial shoplifter who targeted south-east London

The Met and south London businesses teamed up to stop a prolific shoplifter who stole more than £6,000 of alcohol, meat, and other goods.

Over six months, one man persistently targeted a BP site in the Greenwich area, stealing approximately £6,500 worth of items.

Through a collaborative approach John Harris Bolton was identified as the thief. Local officers embarked on proactive patrols in the area and secured evidence from the businesses’ systems and CCTV.

Bolton has now been jailed for 35 weeks and is banned from entering any BP store in south-east London for five years.

Superintendent Rav Pathania, leading local policing in Greenwich, said: “Bolton stole a huge amount of goods, and I’m pleased he’s paid the price for his crimes. We know the damaging effect shoplifting has on businesses, especially the awful impact on workers who feel threatened by those who target their workplace. This was a massive effort which I hope demonstrates how we will drive down crime, listen to community concerns, and tackle criminals who target shops and businesses.”

BP UK security manager Jim Brand said: “The safety and security of our valued colleagues and customers always comes first. This is a great example of how by working together we can tackle the issue of rising levels of crime and abuse in the retail sector - and send a clear message that crime has no place in our stores.”

Michael Walters, Area Manager, Safer Business Network, said: “Safer Business Network were commissioned by Royal Greenwich Council to implement Business Crime Reduction Partnerships across the borough to improve community safety and reduce crime.

"We believe in collaborative multi agency problem solving with key stakeholders to find solutions to local problems. This is a perfect example demonstrating the power of intelligence sharing and how working together to identify prolific offenders can mean positive action is taken to protect businesses.”

Officers from the south-east arrested Bolton, who is of no fixed address, on 4 February. He was charged but, while on bail, continued to offend. When he was arrested on 13 March and brought before the courts, overwhelming evidence was presented to the Magistrates’.

Bolton, 38 (10.01.1986), pleaded guilty to 31 offences of theft and was handed a 35-week custodial sentence on Wednesday, 13 March at Bexleyheath Magistrates’ Court.