Man arrested on suspicion of 28 shop thefts after Lidl robbery

A man has been arrested on suspicion of 28 theft offences following a series of incidents across Liverpool and Litherland since June 2025.

At around 9.30pm on Monday 2 March, officers were called to a report a man trying to steal meat from Lidl on Longmoor Lane had been involved in a physical altercation with security staff and had damaged the store.

He made off on foot towards Fazakerley train station. Officers attended and found the suspect in undergrowth near the station.

A 42-year-old man from Tuebrook was arrested on suspicion of robbery and criminal damage in connection with the incident.

He was further arrested on suspicion of 28 offences of theft from shops and 29 offences of breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order. He has been taken into custody to be questioned.

The offences relate to thefts of meat, chocolate, coats and laundry products from shops across Liverpool including Tesco, M&S, Home Bargains, Morrisons, Aldi, Asda and Blacks, as well as a Home Bargains on Lineacre Road in Litherland.

Superintendent Tony Fairhurst said: “We take all reports of retail crime seriously because of the detrimental impact it can have on staff and the wider community.

“It is not a victimless crime - and the ripple effect can be devastating, from people losing jobs when shops are forced to close due to repeated loss of stock, to prices rising as businesses seek to make up for the lost revenue.

“Merseyside Police is committed to tackling retail crime by working with retailers, the security industry and other partners to disrupt and deter prolific offenders and reduced offending.

"We are determined to keep shopworkers safe from the harm caused with regular patrols in those areas retailers and the community tell us are suffering at the hands of offenders.”

“We would encourage anyone with information about retail crime to get in touch so we can investigate.”

To report a crime taking place contact the Merseyside Police social media desk @MerPolCC on X and Facebook. You can also report information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call 101.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously.