1 month ago
22
A shoplifter has been jailed and banned from each Boots store aft stealing £107,000 worthy of goods from the precocious thoroughfare chain.
Liam Hutchinson, 32, of nary fixed address, was sentenced to a twelvemonth successful situation astatine Westminster Magistrates' Court connected Wednesday.
He was besides issued with a transgression behaviour order, banning him from each Boots store successful the UK for 10 years - and the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea for 5 years.
Metropolitan Police detectives trawled done hours of CCTV footage to find that Hutchinson had committed 99 shoplifting offences astatine Boots stores successful the borough betwixt May and August 2025.
Often stealing ample quantities of razors and electrical items, his crimes outgo the retailer £107,000 successful revenue, Sergeant Jack Vine, of the Met's measurement transgression squad said.
"We recognised the interaction Hutchinson's actions were having connected the retailer, and done moving with staff, we built a beardown lawsuit of grounds against him, which has been reflected successful his sentencing," helium added.
"This effect should enactment arsenic a informing that this benignant of behaviour volition not beryllium tolerated, and that we volition travel down hard connected those who amusement a implicit disregard for the law, terrorise retail workers and outgo businesses thousands of pounds."
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Nicky Harrop, caput of security, fraud, and declaration absorption astatine Boots, said the institution person been investing "significantly" successful anti-theft measures to marque definite stores "remain a harmless and respectful environment" for customers and staff.
The Met says it is prioritising shoplifting, having solved 163% much cases successful London compared to the aforesaid clip past year.
It is besides dedicating up to 80 further officers crossed London's West End, with 90 much successful high-risk theft areas.
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