Metropolitan Police have arrested 15 people as part of a major operation targeting an organised shoplifting ring operating across south-west London.
In a series of coordinated raids on Wednesday, 9 April, officers descended on eight shops and a residential address in Cheam, uncovering approximately £150,000 worth of stolen goods. The crackdown followed months of intelligence gathering and collaboration with retailers affected by repeated theft.
The operation—named Operation Zoridon—focused on disrupting a network of off-licences and newsagents allegedly selling on stolen items such as alcohol, food, and chocolates at discounted prices. More than 100 officers were involved in the sweeping effort, which spanned locations in Merton, Wandsworth, and Sutton.
High-Tech Tactics and Synthetic DNA
A key part of the strategy involved using SelectaDNA, a synthetic forensic marking liquid, to tag 5,000 commonly stolen items. Each mark is uniquely traceable, allowing officers to link stolen goods back to specific retailers. This innovative move has enabled police to gather further evidence such as CCTV footage and victim impact statements to support prosecution efforts.
Sergeant James Burke of the Met’s neighbourhood policing team said:
“Shoplifting pushes up prices for customers and often results in retail workers being verbally and physically abused. It also funds the drug trade and contributes to anti-social behaviour and violence.
“The local officers in my neighbourhood team have put in months of hard work alongside impacted businesses to trial new tactics to drive down shoplifting in the area and have delivered impressive results.”
Raids and Arrests
Police searched shops in the following locations:
- Fernlea Road, Mitcham
- Balham High Road
- Kingston Road, Wimbledon
- London Road, Tooting (two premises)
- Christchurch Road, Wimbledon
- Church Road, Mitcham
- Tooting High Street
A barber’s shop in Tooting High Street and a house on Sandy Lane in Cheam were also searched.
Ten men aged 23 to 64 and three women aged 39 to 45 were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. All have been released on bail pending further enquiries. Two additional men, both aged 48, were arrested in follow-up operations on 17 April and also bailed.
Many of the recovered items were identified as own-brand goods manufactured exclusively for specific supermarket chains, bolstering suspicions of systematic theft and resale.
Community and Business Impact
The Met says this is part of a wider effort to bolster neighbourhood policing and tackle the issues that matter most to Londoners—particularly shoplifting, which has seen a sharp rise in recent years. The initiative has also highlighted the importance of working directly with local businesses to clamp down on repeat offenders.
Residents or business owners with further information on suspected shoplifting networks are urged to contact police on 101 and reference Operation Zoridon via the South West Basic Command Unit.
This latest round of arrests sends a strong signal that organised retail crime will be met with robust policing and innovative tactics.
