Shoplifter Jailed After Stealing £100,000 of Razors and Electronics from Boots

A serial shoplifter who stole goods worth more than £100,000 from Boots stores in Chelsea and Kensington has been jailed for a year.

Liam Hutchinson, 32, carried out nearly 100 thefts between May and August this year, repeatedly targeting branches for high-value items such as razor blades and electrical products.

He has been banned from entering any Boots store for 10 years and is prohibited from entering the borough of Kensington and Chelsea for five years.

Hutchinson was eventually caught after Scotland Yard detectives worked with Boots staff to track his movements. Investigators reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV footage to build a case strong enough to secure his conviction.

Sergeant Jack Vine, from the Met's Volume Crime Team in central London, said:

"Liam Hutchinson's thefts cost Boots around £107,000 in lost revenue. By working closely with staff, we were able to gather extensive evidence, which has been reflected in the sentence. This case sends a clear message: shoplifting on this scale will not be tolerated. We will pursue those who disregard the law, intimidate retail workers, and cause huge financial losses."

Nicky Harrop, head of security, fraud and contract management at Boots, said the company had been investing heavily in measures to deter and disrupt theft, safeguard employees, and provide police with high-quality evidence.

Chief Inspector Rav Pathania, the Met's lead for tackling retail crime, added:

"The Met is taking a tough stance on shoplifters by boosting local patrols, increasing officer presence, and running intelligence-led operations to target prolific offenders."

The Johnson Partnership, Derby