In a major operation, eight off-licences and newsagents across Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth were searched on Wednesday, April 9, resulting in 15 arrests.
The operation is part of the Met’s efforts to crack down on organised shoplifting gangs across South West London.
Officers seized an estimated £150,000 worth of stolen items, many of which were marked with a synthetic DNA trace to link them back to their source.
The targeted shops, including locations in Mitcham, Wimbledon, and Tooting, were allegedly buying commonly shoplifted goods such as chocolates, alcohol, and other groceries and reselling them at discounted prices.
In an official YouTube video published by the Met following the raids, officers were seen confiscating Fairy Liquid and Ferrero Rocher. Officers also discovered supermarket-owned products, like Waitrose’s own prosecco, being sold illegally.
An officer described the volume of the offending as “astronomical”, and said that they were joined by members of Merton Council, trading standards, immigration and the London Fire Brigade during the operation. Police raids were carried out at shops in
Fernlea Road, Mitcham
Balham High Road
Kingston Road, Wimbledon
London Road, Tooting (x2)
Christchurch Road, Wimbledon
Church Road, Mitcham
Tooting High Street
In addition to the shops, police also searched a barber shop on Tooting High Street and a home on Cheam’s Sandy Lane. Sergeant James Burke from the Met’s neighbourhood policing team in South West London praised the operation as a significant step forward in tackling retail crime at its root.
“Shoplifting doesn’t just affect big brands, it fuels antisocial behaviour, funds criminal networks, and creates fear for local retail workers,” Burke said. “By going after the shops that create a market for these stolen goods, we’re cutting off the demand.”
For the first time in a Met operation, SelectaDNA was used. This forensic marking system tags items with a unique synthetic signature and enables officers to trace the stolen goods back to the original stores, strengthening the evidence base for future prosecutions.
Ten men, aged 23 to 64, and three women, aged 39 to 45, were arrested during the raids, all on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
They have since been released on bail pending further enquiries. Two more men, both aged 48, were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods in separate activities on Thursday, April 17. They were later bailed.
The Met says the operation highlights its renewed commitment to neighbourhood policing. Officers work directly with local businesses to tackle the rising tide of shoplifting and its ripple effects in the community.
“This is about protecting honest traders and ensuring our local high streets remain safe and fair places to shop,” said Sergeant Burke.
The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests or charges may follow as police continue to examine evidence gathered during the raids.
