A man just released from prison and wanted for three shop thefts has been arrested by Nottinghamshire Police.
Officers carried out on Wednesday, May 3, a day of action at the Castle Retail Park in Radford as part of a new shop watch scheme.
The man was on his way to play basketball when police pulled him over.
He was arrested and found to be in breach of his licensing conditions.
Another wanted man was also arrested in connection with a commercial burglary incident.
Others causing anti-social behaviour were handed dispersal orders.
The area has had a significant number of shoplifting offences since the beginning of the year.
Sergeant Jordan Hinds, the City Retail Crime Lead, said: “Shoplifting and begging has a massive impact on the city and often these crimes are committed to fund a substance addiction.
“Officers will look to support and signpost any person with an addiction to help make positive changes to their lifestyle. This will then impact on drug dealers who fill our streets with mamba, crack cocaine and heroin which is destroying lives.
“We want Castle Retail Park to be a place where people can visit without being pestered for change outside stores or feel unsafe.
“We are working very closely with staff security and hope days of action like this will make offenders realise this isn’t a place they can visit to commit crime and cause problems for staff and customers.
“There are excellent businesses here that are very well used and are a massive benefit to the city and we want them to operate without constant fear that shoplifters will strike. It is also important that we protect staff if they find themselves abused or assaulted by these known offenders.
“Hopefully operations like this will improve public confidence – that we know there is an issue, we are listening to the local community and acting on these concerns with positive results.”
