£21.5k of stolen goods and cash recovered in Reading
The discovery was part of the forces Safer Streets Summer commitment.
Last updated 2nd Sep 2025
Thames Valley Police have recovered around £21,500-worth of stolen goods and cash from a shoplifting ring in Reading.
Police officers worked with Reading’s Business Improvement Districts Wardens to find where shoplifters are stashing their hauls, including numerous stolen sunglasses, cosmetics, and clothing.
The discovery was part of the forces Safer Streets Summer commitment.
Inspector James Tribe, of the Reading Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This excellent piece of partnership working has resulted in a massive piece of our shoplifting jigsaw being completed.
“We have been working tirelessly to find out who is handling the goods that are being stolen within the town centre and I firmly believe this disruption will really hit our shoplifters hard.”
Reading’s BID Manager, Alexa Volker, said: “Our Wardens work tirelessly to support local retailers in dealing with shoplifting, including where possible returning stolen stock to retailers, reporting incidences, or supporting staff when dealing with shoplifters.
“Our BID Wardens are on patrol seven days a week acting as the eyes and ears of the town.
“Working closely with the Reading Neighbourhood Team, they are able to share intelligence, and help identify offenders, thereby expediting the actions of the Police as seen in this case.
“The BID and our Wardens will continue working to make our town centre more safe and attractive to all the businesses, visitors and residents, and look forward to supporting the police’s work in the future.”
On 30 July, BID wardens responded to a report of a regular offender stealing meat from one of the supermarkets in town.
They followed him and saw him enter a shop in the town centre, which has been thought to have been involved in handling stolen goods.
The BID wardens updated the Reading Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team, who had already been alerted to what was going on.
Officers entered the shop and located the stolen meat so then arrested the owner, a 40-year-old man from Reading, on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
The suspect was reluctant to provide his home address to officers and gave various other addresses to in a fruitless attempt try to thwart them.
The Force Intelligence Hub found a potential current address for him in Oxford Road so a section 18 warrant was authorised and executed.
When officers arrived, it was confirmed to be the correct address as the suspect’s wife was there. Inside, officers seized:
- £23,000 of cash, which the force secured possession of for three months in a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing until the suspect can prove it was lawfully earned
- £10,000-worth of sunglasses (thought to have been stolen from a store in the town centre that has lost £80,000-worth of Ray-Bans in a year, which has been a priority for the team to recover)
- £5,000-worth of cosmetics
- £3,250-worth of perfume
- £2,000-worth of handbags
- £1,250-worth of clothing
Insp Tribe said: “This result is just one example of how we’re taking back Reading town centre and the rest across the Thames Valley this summer with our partners, with increased police presence, quicker response times, and targeted action against retail crime and antisocial behaviour.
"The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee means you'll see more officers on your streets, with dedicated teams focused solely on making your town centre safer.”
The shop owner has been released under investigation.