New technology designed to help police catch shoplifters more quickly is being rolled out across Ealing following successful trials elsewhere in London.
The Metropolitan Police says the system has helped quadruple the proportion of shoplifting reports leading to charges, cautions or other action against offenders.
Previously piloted in six London boroughs, the technology is now being expanded to eight more, including Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow.
The Met has told EALING.NEWS that the rollout covers the whole borough of Ealing rather than being restricted to particular town centres.
The system allows participating retailers to send CCTV footage, witness statements and other evidence directly to police, helping officers identify suspects, make arrests and build cases more quickly.
Police said officers could previously wait 28 days or longer to obtain CCTV footage and statements from retailers. Using the new system, the evidence can be received within minutes.
One recent Ealing case highlighted by the Met as an example of the technology helping police catch shoplifters involved Michael Belgrave, a prolific offender known to officers as “Red Bull Guy” because of his repeated thefts of energy drinks.
Belgrave, 55, of no fixed address, was convicted of 43 shoplifting offences after carrying out dozens of thefts across Ealing and Shepherd’s Bush, stealing more than £4,000 worth of goods from stores including Greggs and BP.
Police linked him to a string of offences and identified him using facial recognition technology before arresting him on 10 June 2026.
He was sentenced at Ealing Magistrates’ Court on 12 June 2026 to nine months in prison and given a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).
The order bans him from entering any branch of Holland & Barrett, Greggs or BP — not just in Ealing, but across England and Wales.
The Met says the technology has led to action being taken against shoplifters in 29.4% of cases reported through the system, compared with 7.3% before it was introduced.
This includes offenders being charged or cautioned.
Chief Inspector Rav Pathania, the Met’s lead for business crime, said: “The results speak for themselves. This crime reporting technology is helping us identify offenders faster and bring more shoplifters to justice.
“By receiving CCTV footage and evidence directly from retailers at the point a crime is committed, we can build stronger cases and act more decisively.
“Tackling retail crime remains a top priority for the Met. Reported shoplifting offences across London are down by almost four per cent, but we’re not taking our foot off the pedal as evidenced by this continued use of new tech.”
