00:00In the months leading up to the operation, the Metropolitan Police said retailers and
00:05trading standards helped identify rogue businesses suspected of buying and selling stolen goods.
00:13The operation also targeted car boot sales suspected of being used to sell stolen goods.
00:20Deputy Commissioner Matt Dukes said honest retailers have been clear that they want action
00:27against the minority of rogue businesses that fuel retail crime, undercut legitimate traders
00:34and damage confidence in high street businesses.
00:38During the deployment, a licensing check at a shop in Lewisham resulted in the identification
00:43of suspected stolen Tesco tinned mackerel.
00:46Further searches led to the recovery of a machete as well as suspected stolen passports and driving
00:52licenses being stored in a sweet tin.
00:55Two suspects were arrested for offenses including handling stolen goods and possession of an
01:00offensive weapon.
01:02A separate check at a retail premises in Clapham saw two arrests made after officers recovered
01:08£1,000 worth of branded meat products from Sainsbury's Co-op in Iceland, as well as two
01:16knives and a large quantity of Class B drugs.
01:19Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said backed by record investment from City Hall, he was pleased the
01:24Met is working closely with retailers and partners to disrupt every part of the shoplifting chain.
