A prolific shoplifter who targeted a Waterstones store in Crouch End, Haringey, stealing more than £3,000 worth of board games, toys, and books, has been sentenced following a detailed Metropolitan Police investigation.
Man Convicted After Months of Theft Spree
Paul Mangal, aged 58, of Hornsey Rise Gardens, repeatedly stole from the Waterstones branch on The Broadway between April 2023 and February 2025. Appearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, April 29, Mangal was handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
He was also banned from entering Crouch End or Hornsey for two years and prohibited from carrying a suitcase in either area.
Investigation Led by Local Police Team
The investigation was led by Sergeant James Elliott of the North London policing team, who emphasized the importance of community cooperation:
“Through building strong relationships with staff at this branch of Waterstones, we were able to identify Mangal by assessing his patterns of offending, which appeared to ramp up around Christmas and became almost daily until his arrest.”
Increased patrols and enhanced relationships between police and retailers helped officers collect vital CCTV footage and evidence. Mangal was finally arrested on February 23, shortly after another theft, where he attempted to leave the store with stolen goods concealed in a suitcase.
Shoplifting Crackdown in Haringey
The case highlights a wider crackdown on shoplifting in Haringey, where police have doubled the number of officers on the ward since February and regularly visit retailers to encourage reporting.
Sergeant Elliott added:
We hope the success of this case will encourage more businesses to work closely with us so we can remove the most prolific shoplifters from our streets.
Thanks to these proactive efforts, thefts in The Broadway area have reportedly dropped by 35% since December 2024.
Future Measures to Combat Retail Crime
Plans are now underway to introduce Live Facial Recognition (LFR) patrols in the area to help quickly identify offenders. Officers will also patrol on bicycles during the summer to ensure faster responses to theft incidents.
