Bolton's shoplifting team ready for 2024 with multiple charges already under their belt

Bolton’s shoplifting team has started 2024 exactly the way it means to go on – by securing multiple charges for suspected shoplifters across the town.

Last week, the team secured 26 charges for eight different people, relating to various crimes: shoplifting, theft, and failing to appear at court.

This follows on from 2023’s successes, which saw countless arrests and charges for shoplifting and retail-related crimes.

The Bolton shoplifting team – which is comprised of new recruits being taught by seasoned officers – sees the younger officers deployed around Bolton for a five-week period, before moving on to further operations or patches. The new officers are able to see through a crime from arrest to charge and sentencing, helping them learn the basics of policing while tackling shoplifters.

Bolton subsequently receives dedicated shoplifting officers, while the force benefits from officers being trained and tutored to a high crime-tackling standard.

The officers work closely with local stores and will use a radio that connects them to store security in the area they are patrolling, in order to be able to respond as quickly as possible.

The work is further backed by a retail crime SPOC for the district, who will liaise with stores, GMP’s crime prevention team, and the force’s retail crime lead to ensure the best work is being done wherever possible.

Sergeant Jess Prudence, from GMP’s Bolton district, said: “Our shoplifting team has been able to help stores by working closely with them to lock-up repeat offenders, provide prevention advice, and assist those in need by giving them the appropriate signposting.

“Shoplifting is a problem that we are committed to tackling and I am sure that the team will continue to deliver throughout 2024. If any stores in the Bolton area would like to get in touch with us, I would urge them to do so, as we can assist them in all things security.

“We post regular updates of our results on our social media pages as well as Bee In The Loop – all Bolton residents should check us out for the latest news and actions.”