CRIME has fallen at Co-op stores following the trial of a new system including improved tracking of repeat offenders.
The retail giant said the number of cases solved has almost doubled thanks to a new reporting trial with Devon and Cornwall Police.
The trial is currently operating across Co-op stores in Devon and Cornwall, but discussions are under way with other police forces.
If adopted more widely, a similar approach could benefit retailers in Worcestershire, where shop theft remains a concern for many businesses and high streets.
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The Co-op said new data revealed that 90% of identified shop theft offenders are repeat offenders, with just 50 individuals responsible for around a quarter of all shop theft offences in the Devon and Cornwall force area, often with more than 100 known offences each.
The new system is said to enable stronger intelligence sharing, improved tracking of repeat offenders, stronger cases against prolific offenders and closer collaboration with police.
The Co-op said its staff upload incident details, CCTV, photos and impact statements, enabling police to record and allocate the crime in as little as 30 minutes, a process it adds could take police up to seven days.
Paul Gerrard, director of campaigns, public affairs and policy at the Co-op, said: “The reduction in retail crime at Co-op is very welcome, but these are green shoots with crime levels remaining higher than before the pandemic.
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“The success of this initiative demonstrates the benefits that we know can be realised when retailers and police work together.
“We have seen that offenders can be identified and investigations can progress much faster and, importantly for everyone, outcomes improve significantly.”
Chris Chaloner, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “The results from this pilot have been extremely impressive. The evidence provided through the platform is available to officers immediately, allowing investigations to progress much more quickly.
“Crucially, this approach helps us to link crimes and identify and target those prolific offenders who are responsible for a disproportionate amount of retail crime.”
