Highest shoplifting 'solve rate' in the country is here

A DRIVE to fight shoplifting has put Teesside “top of the country” for solving thefts, a police commander has said.

- 

Cleveland Police is currently solving a third of shop thefts, 10% over the national average, the Safer Stockton Partnership heard.

Officers charged two people with 53 shoplifting offences over two days in December 2025.

Superintendent Alan O'Donoghue, district commander for Stockton and strategic lead for retail crime, said they had spoken to a wide range of businesses across Teesside, listened to their concerns, gathered insights and understood their challenges with crimes which threatened livelihoods:

"We have seen first hand the significant and lasting impact retail crime is having on the hardworking people of Cleveland and in the Stockton borough.

"Many businesses continue to face worrying increases in theft, verbal and physical abuse and antisocial behaviour. We have zero tolerance to that sort of behaviour," he told a meeting on January 21.

"When this retail crime occurs it affects far beyond the shop floor. Tackling this isn't solely a police challenge - we'll only achieve those improvements if we work together."