{"id":4297,"date":"2026-06-01T23:17:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T23:17:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/organised-shoplifting-gangs-using-children-as-young-as-five-police-say\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T23:17:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T23:17:05","slug":"organised-shoplifting-gangs-using-children-as-young-as-five-police-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/organised-shoplifting-gangs-using-children-as-young-as-five-police-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Organised shoplifting gangs using children as young as five, police say"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Daily Mirror joins Met police officers as they target thieves, drug dealers, shoplifters and illegal e-bike riders during a week-long operation snaring 32 suspects<\/h2>\n
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The Mirror shadows the Met Police on a special operation<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Organised crime gangs are using children as young as five in shoplifting raids<\/a>, police have revealed.<\/p>\n

The youngsters are deployed by their parents who know security guards<\/a> will not touch them as they grab armfuls of designer goods, acting police sergeant Jo Van Wyk said.<\/p>\n

Ms Van Wyk spoke to the Daily Mirror<\/a> as we accompanied her during the week-long Operation Terminos in Wembley, North West London, focusing on theft, anti-social behaviour, along with e-bike and retail crime<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Showing us the mugshots of wanted shoplifters, the officer said they are often stealing to order for local minimarts and takeaways. Ms Van Wyk said: “We know a lot of the rice is stolen and they sell it to the restaurants.”<\/p>\n

Organised gangs, sometimes using children, are also involved, with \u00a310,000 worth of sunglasses swiped in a recent raid. The officer said: “Children as young as five are involved because security can’t do anything.”<\/p>\n