PCSO Helps Nab Two Shoplifters After Half Hour Pursuit

Female officer followed suspects through streets of Putney

The PSCO was off duty when she was informed of the suspects. Picture: Met Police

July 24, 2026

A Putney PCSO has helped recover stolen goods and bring two suspects into custody after a half-hour pursuit through local streets, in an incident the Metropolitan Police say highlights both the scale of shoplifting in the area and the value of residents reporting issues.

The incident, described in an update on Met Engage by PC Damian Catherall of Thamesfield ward, took place on 20 July, shortly after a PCSO from the Putney Safer Neighbourhood Team had finished her shift. Walking up Putney High Street, she noticed suspicious behaviour outside a well-known store. When she entered the shop, the security guard was visibly agitated and accused two individuals of shoplifting. The PCSO made the decision to follow the suspects and call 999.

She kept them in sight as they moved quickly through the town centre, attempting to shake off the pursuit. The suspects entered another shop and tried to carry out a distraction robbery, which failed. They then headed down Montserrat Road, Werter Road and into Sainsbury’s, changing direction repeatedly in an effort to evade her.

After around thirty minutes, an emergency response unit arrived outside Putney station. The suspects were detained, handcuffed and searched. Officers recovered goods worth £200, which were returned to the store.

Police say the incident demonstrates the importance of vigilance and reporting. Local shops, they noted, are among the most accessible places and protecting them requires timely information from residents, particularly when shoplifters operate across multiple premises in quick succession.

Officers encouraged residents to report suspicious behaviour as soon as they see it, saying these reports help build a clearer picture of when and where shoplifting occurs, allowing police to be in the right place at the right time. Guidance on how to spot a shoplifter is available on the Met’s website.

The update was shared with residents who had raised concerns about shoplifting in the Met’s local priority survey. Police said they wanted to demonstrate how information from the public directly shapes neighbourhood policing.

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