Shoplifting crackdown at Victoria Retail Park: Cops on high alert
Operation Reacher targets retail thieves
Police in Netherfield have launched a no-nonsense crackdown on shoplifters terrorising Victoria Retail Park. Gedling’s Operation Reacher team swarmed the area and surrounding streets for five days in December, aiming to stop thieves in their tracks.
After hearing from local retailers fed up with thefts, officers gleaned intelligence revealing that crooks were hitting the bigger stores hard. Their loot ranged from clothes and toiletries to food and perfumes.
On the ground and on the lookout
The Reacher squad stayed visible inside shops and watched from marked patrol cars, on the hunt for anyone acting suspicious or known to shoplift. They also met with managers and supervisors to reassure them that police take theft seriously.
During the operation, officers assisted security with rowdy customers and quickly defused incidents involving banned individuals refusing to leave stores — all settled peacefully thanks to rapid police action.
Stolen goods recovered, arrests made
Police also found a stash of suspected stolen meat, alcohol, and toiletries in a van outside a Netherfield home. A man in his 50s was hauled in on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
Officers were first on the scene when a shoplifter punched a security guard during a theft attempt at a food and home store.
Sergeant Carrington’s warning to crooks
“We’ve seen a spike in shop thefts at the retail park,” said Sergeant James Carrington, lead of Operation Reacher.
“In the run-up to Christmas and the January sales, theft reports rise, so we’re clamping down hard on shoplifters stealing from stores.
“We’re working closely with businesses and partners across Gedling, sharing intel and advice, to stop crooks in their tracks.
“This isn’t a one-off. Our team and neighbourhood police regularly patrol, hunting those preying on shops. We catch people red-handed and stop thefts from happening.
“To shoplifters thinking they’re under the radar: we may not always be visible, but we’re watching — in uniform and plain clothes. We’ll catch you, arrest you, and put you before the courts.”
