BBC team joins retail crime unit to track store thieves and gangs

BBC journalists went out on patrol with a specialist retail crime team to see how officers deal with shoplifting. The team targets both petty thieves who steal small items and organised gangs who target stores on a larger scale. Retail crime has become a major issue for shop owners and workers across the region. Officers on the patrol work to catch suspects and stop stolen goods from being sold. The operation highlights the daily efforts police make to protect local shops from theft.