Portsmouth police target 12 aggressive shoplifters to 'restore balance'

Officers targeted 12 known thieves in Portsmouth using evidence-based intelligence and information from chains’ area managers.

Shoplifters have been tussling with ‘proud’ workers who want to defend their stores with staff subjected to violence a police sergeant has said is ‘not acceptable’.

Seven on the list have been arrested and charged with six remanded to court for a total of 91 offences in the area.

One man alone is due in court accused of stealing nearly £1,200 worth of goods in a series of thefts.

It comes after smaller stores without security guards were being raided by thieves during lockdown.

Sgt Neil Bateman told The News thieves were ‘growing’ in confidence - but he wants stores to be more confidence and reassured the problem is being tackled.

‘When they were being challenged by the staff there were threats of violence or actual physical violence coming their way,’ he said.

Tackling ‘spike’ in violent shoplifting crime

Sgt Bateman said Operation Monster is a way of ‘addressing the balance’ after the ‘spike’ in aggressive thefts.

‘That runs in line with giving some greater confidence to our community stores and looking after our shop workers, the vital parts of our community,’ he said.

‘They’ve got a right to want to feel safe within their workplace.’

Anyone identified in the scheme is first shown how to access support networks in a bid to reduce their offending behaviour. This includes drug addiction support.

Sgt Bateman said: ‘These offenders have been made aware that they’re part of the process and we give them the opportunity to change their behaviours and habits.

‘Sometimes unfortunately the only way that they can get help, or feel they can get help, is through the justice system.

‘It’s been made very clear (to them) you’re part of this process and if you keep offending, expect the maximum punishment to come your way.’

Attacks can be ‘terrifying’

As reported, a shop worker assaulted in May told The News the attack at a shop in Southsea was ‘a shock’ when a thief lunged at him with a syringe and it ‘wasn’t something I’ve seen before since working in retail’.

Portsmouth worker Simon Magorian, who was punched in the face, said: ‘It’s good that anything is being done. There needs to be an intervention.

‘It’s calmed down a little but – the problem is with gangs. They come in and there’s about seven of them, there’s nothing the staff can do.

‘With the police, you’re lucky if they turn up. It can be quite terrifying.’

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