Exeter police arrest multiple suspects in major retail crime crackdown

Exeter city centre recorded a series of arrests this week as Devon & Cornwall Police stepped up activity to tackle retail crime during the national Safer Business Action Week. 

The operation, held between 10 and 14 November, focused on strengthening links between police and local businesses while targeting repeat shoplifting offenders across the city.

Officers carried out intelligence-led patrols in known shoplifting hotspots, engaged directly with retailers, and conducted stop searches to build intelligence. 

Several arrests were made, including individuals wanted for previous shop theft offences and others charged with breaching Community Behaviour Orders alongside theft-related incidents. 

The week-long activity also led to the recovery of missing persons and increased foot patrols aimed at reassuring the public.

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Sergeant Matt Beards, who leads Exeter’s neighbourhood policing team, said: “Shop theft is not a victimless crime. These arrests are the result of proactive work with our partner agencies, including Exeter Business Against Crime, to directly target repeat offenders and reduce the impact of crime on local businesses and staff.”

Newly released figures illustrate the scale of shoplifting in Exeter. 

Between October 2024 and September 2025, the city recorded 2,517 incidents, compared with 1,907 the previous year, 2024. This shows an increase of 32 per cent, or 610 additional offences. 

Monthly figures show fluctuations throughout the year, with notable peaks in May 2025 (306 incidents) and June 2025 (221 incidents). 

The total number of recorded incidents across the force area for the year also stands at 2,517.

The enforcement activity coincided with the launch of the Devon, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), a new scheme enabling businesses to share intelligence, coordinate responses, and issue exclusion orders for persistent offenders. 

Devon and Cornwall Police said the initiative supports a more unified approach to business crime:“We know how much business crime can affect those who work within businesses in our communities. By taking a collaborative and proactive approach, we can deploy resources to specific locations on patrol and directly target offenders.” 

“Tackling this issue remains a priority for the Force. Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRPs) and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) working in partnership can focus resources into a designated location to create a significant impact to reduce crime.”

“The Devon, Cornwall & IOS BCRP now allows businesses to collectively exclude prolific offenders, share information and intelligence between one another and take collective action against business crime in their community.” 

“It brings together individual BCRPs and BIDs so that, while still remaining independent, they can share vital intelligence across the region to help identify and track prolific offenders who offend across multiple areas and share timely alerts.”

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said the arrests in Exeter form part of a broader strategy to address retail crime across the force area: “By concentrating resources on known hotspots and repeat offenders, we can protect local businesses and ensure a safe environment for staff and shoppers.”

Exeter Sector Inspector Nathan Johnson said shop theft remains a key focus for local officers: “In Exeter, shop theft is a priority for the neighbourhood team. Our focus is on the most prolific offenders, and we are seeking custody and criminal behaviour orders to marginalise their impact. 

Adding to this, he said: “We know shop theft is underreported, and we continue to encourage businesses to report incidents so we know where to target patrols.”

Businesses seeking advice on prevention or reporting can access resources via the Devon & Cornwall Police business crime prevention page or contact the Victim Care Unit for further support.