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Thief jailed for £17k shoplifting spree at ‘Lewisham’s worst hotspot’

THIS is the moment two brothers stole chocolates from what is believed to be Lewisham’s worst shoplifting hotspot.

William Daly, 41, and his brother James, 43, are part of the shoplifting gang causing havoc at the BP garage on Bromley Road, in Downham.

We revealed how police are cracking down on the gang and its members’ daily raids on the garage in our report last week.

CCTV footage shows the Daly brothers, both from Catford, piling boxes of chocolates into their bags in a particularly brazen raid last year.

A worried customer can be seen putting a protective arm around a young boy as she watches the shoplifting unfold right in front of her.

It was one of 48 times William Daly raided the garage, which also houses an M&S Food shop, between February 11 and April 14 last year.

William Daly
PICTURED: William Daly stole more than £17k worth of goods from the BP garage in just over two months

He stole a staggering £17,079.19 worth of goods during this period.

The crook was jailed for 22 weeks for the shoplifting spree in October.

We understand that Daly and his brother plagued the store last year but have since turned their attention to other stores in the area.

However, the BP garage in Bromley Road is still hit “every day” by shoplifters, sources say.

James Daly
PICTURED: James Daly steals from stores with his brother

A spokesman for Catford South Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “We have been tackling retail theft crime in the area and particularly at the garage, which is a hotspot for local shoplifters in the area.

“Operations have been conducted to target the gang of shoplifters and we will use all of the tools at our disposal to support businesses and ensure that prolific offenders are brought to justice.”

Daly stole wine, mixers, energy drinks, meat, ice cream, chocolate and countless other items from the BP garage before he was convicted last year.

The BP garage in Bromley Road
PICTURED: The BP garage in Bromley Road is hit “every day” by shoplifters, sources say

A source told the Lewisham Letter last week that the gang are ‘stealing to order’, meaning they have a buyer lined up before they enter the shop.

A local said: “It’s like a free-for-all in the garage. Every time I go in, the shoplifters come in with big bags fill them up and then just walk out. It’s so brazen. 

“Everyone knows what’s going on. Last year I saw one of them stealing a whole shelf of de-icer.

“I think they know they will only get a slap on the wrist if they get caught so there’s nothing to lose.”

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