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Good afternoon,
I wanted to provide you with an update regarding business crime, which is a priority crime type for Tower Hamlets. Following extensive work and collaboration by officers from Tower Hamlets Neighbourhood Teams and VCT (Volume Crime Team), a prolific shoplifter responsible for targeting Holland and Barrett in Whitechapel was identified.
Neighbourhood officers identified a linked series of thefts from the store back in March 2025 and assisted VCT with taking statements and downloading CCTV.
Despite the intervention of the Safer Business Network and colleagues from NE BCU (Newham and Waltham Forest), the identity of the prolific offender remained elusive.
A few weeks ago neighbourhood officers deployed on Clear, Hold, Build patrols narrowly missed the same suspect who continued his brazen stealing and assaulted employee at the store.
Neighbourhood officers carried out a comprehensive initial investigation by taking a witness statement, obtaining CCTV and establishing further offences linked to the offender.
Neighbourhood Officers showed perseverance and were eventually able to identify the suspect who was linked to an address in NE BCU, again the offender avoided capture and was not located during the arrest enquiry.
A few weeks later, on Friday 18th July 2025 through professional curiosity, one of the neighbourhood officers who was involved in the primary investigation of some of the offending of the suspect noticed the suspect had been arrested for immigration offences and was in custody at an East London Police Station.
The neighbourhood officer contacted the VCT and informed VCT of the linked theft offences. VCT carried out the secondary investigation and suspect was charged with the following:
12 Thefts from Holland & Barrett Whitechapel E1
1 Common assault from Holland & Barrett Whitechapel E1
1 Theft from SAINSBURYS, JEFFERSON PLAZA E3
1 Theft from TESCO, KATHERINE ROAD E7
There may be further offences linked to suspect, but due to delays with CCTV and outstanding statements these have not been progressed. However please be assured that there is ongoing collaborative with colleagues from Safer Business Network, Neighbourhood teams and VCT to gather further evidence to prosecute the prolific offender. |
