Arnold shoplifting success as 'supermarket sweep' thieves caught

A police radio scheme to help tackle shop theft is proving highly effective in Arnold, as a trio of thieves who dashed around supermarkets, filling trolleys with goods to steal, were caught in the act by officers. Nottinghamshire Police's Arnold neighbourhood team operate a Shop Watch radio scheme that connects police with individual shops, supermarkets, businesses, and independent retailers.

It has had an effective detection rate of 75 per cent in the last two months, meaning there has been a positive outcome with police action leading to an arrest, charge, or other sanction in three quarters of all reported shop thefts. Daianna Ionita, Gianni Ionita, and Matei Bernandi all entered Asda in Front Street, Arnold, under the guise of prospective customers on 31 May.

Once inside, the group selected two large plastic bins, placed them in a shopping trolley, and dashed around the supermarket emptying entire shelves of chocolate bars, household goods, and medical items worth hundreds of pounds before heading for the exit without paying. As the thefts were happening, Asda's security team used the Shop Watch radio to alert police, with an officer who was already at the supermarket able to swiftly detain and arrest the three shoplifters.

CCTV footage showed the trio get out of a Ford Galaxy, which contained dozens of stolen food products and clothes on the back seat when the car was searched by officers. The investigation also uncovered near identical thefts at B&M Bargains in Madford Retail Park and Sainsbury's in Arnold.

Neighbourhood officers have made significant efforts to engage with businesses in the area, encouraging them to sign up to Shop Watch and strengthen the force's partnership with retailers. They have established a close working relationship with security teams at various shops across Arnold, enabling a more effective response to shop theft and other retail crime.

The targeted work has also led to a significant reduction in repeat offenders, many of whom have received substantial prison sentences or have not returned to the area. Shop Watch provides retailers with radios that connect directly to the force control room and local officers, allowing for a quicker response.

It also enables regular sharing of information between police and businesses through partner meetings. Daianna Ionita, aged 20, Gianni Ionita, aged 18, and Bernandi, aged 32, all of Chadwick Road, Nottingham, each indicated guilty to three counts of theft from a shop when they appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on 19 June.

They were all sentenced to a community order of 100 hours' unpaid work and ordered to each pay £266 in compensation. Sergeant Alison Riley, of Nottinghamshire Police's Arnold neighbourhood team, said: "Neighbourhood officers have made significant progress in tackling shop theft using methods we know are effective.

"Reducing shoplifting is about using all the tools and technology we have at our disposal, including hotspot patrol plans – meaning officers are in the right place at the right time. "Shop Watch radios are crucial in helping us to arrest and charge persistent offenders.

"This also includes Operation Retail, which allows us to secure criminal charges against shop thieves more quickly when there is clear and overwhelming evidence capturing the offence. "We are pleased with the progress that has been made but are in no way complacent and will continue to work with businesses to tackle the issues important to them and support local retailers." Share