Crackdown on business crime sees 12 arrested and four charged in Safer Business Action Week

Merseyside Police’s Safer Business Action Week, which ran from October 14-20, has seen 12 arrests and four people charged in a bid to proactively target prolific offenders across the region.

The first arrest of the week took place on Monday 14 October, for the theft of bottles of ’19 Crimes’ wine after police spotted a man on Ryedale Close with items stuffed down his jumper. Gusai Othman (see above), 34, of Falkner Street, Liverpool had walked out of Tesco on Brownlow Hill with 11 bottles of ‘19 Crimes’ wine (see below) without paying and he was charged with theft and sentenced to 12 weeks in prison.

More arrests followed after uniformed and plain clothed officers patrolled town centres across Merseyside to target offenders resulting in the following charges:
 
- Curt Luminita, 37, of Rushton Road, Stoke-on-Trent was charged with theft from Asda, Huyton Lane, Huyton.

- Christian Damian Mirzac, 41, of no fixed address, was charged with three counts of theft from Asda, Huyton Lane, Huyton.

- Jennifer McKevitt, 42, of Mosscroft Close, Huyton, was charged with three counts of shop theft at Tesco Express, Marks and Spencer and B&M all at Cables Retail Park, Prescot.

There were also 12 people arrested for the following offences:

• Two attempted robberies.
• One robbery.
• Six making off without paying at petrol stations across Merseyside.
• One conspiracy to commit robbery.
• One theft from a shop.
• One recall to prison.

Force Lead for Business Crime, Chief Inspector Charlotte Irlam from Liverpool Neighbourhood Local Policing said: “Our dedicated team of officers across Merseyside have really shown our communities how much they are invested in helping make our centres safe places to work, shop and do business.  We have targeted offenders who have caused the most harm to businesses over the week and have seen some really positive results with many arrests which helps disrupt criminal activity.  

“We have also been talking to businesses and working with our partners like Liverpool BID Company and City Watch to listen to the concerns raised by businesses and discussed future working along with new initiatives so that our work carries on throughout the year. Partnership working is so important and we could not do it without the dedication and enthusiasm of all the businesses involved and also Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, who earlier in the year helped us introduce our QR reporting system which has seen an increase of 43% in online reporting of crime and SelectaDNA Intruder Spray Kits which have been rolled out across the region to help target offenders.”

Merseyside Police and partners have been supporting the national Safer Business Action Week to help tackle business and retail crime in our local communities. As part of the initiative, police and partners held Safer Business Action Days throughout the week and visited local retailers and other businesses to understand more about the issues they face on a daily basis.

The objective was to deliver a focussed operation with joint patrols, the targeted intervention of prolific offenders and a range of crime prevention activity supported by the National Business Crime Centre who organise SaBA Week.

Merseyside Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “Business owners and retail staff are the beating hearts of our town and city centres, and we are always looking for ways to make them feel safer at work. That was why, earlier this year, I committed to invest vital funds into positive schemes which protect them, their employees, and their customers by preventing crime. 

“Retail crime is not a victimless crime and that is why Safer Business Action week is so important, it gives local policing teams an opportunity to visit retailers and hear about the issues they are facing. This partnership work is essential in preventing crime and targeting offenders. 

“Merseyside Police takes retail crime very seriously and these arrests are evidence that the force will continue its relentless pursuit of anyone who attempts to bring misery to our high streets.”  

Anyone with information on retail or business crime can contact @MerPolCC on X or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook or call 101. 
 
You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.