This is the moment officers stormed a warehouse in Romford to seize £500,000 of suspected stolen goods, including sun lotion and facial cream.
Police forced entry into the warehouse on Tuesday using a power drill after intelligence suggested stolen goods were being delivered there by courier.
Inside, officers found a haul of suspected stolen goods, including around £56,000 worth of Ultrasun sun lotion and 1,000 jars of Neal’s Yard Frankincense Nourishing Cream, alongside discarded security tags and boxes.
A 34-year-old man was arrested on Friday on suspicion of handling stolen goods, police say. He remains in custody.
Police said £9,000 in cash was also recovered during the raid.
The raid was part of a year-long Metropolitan Police investigation into an organised crime group suspected of handling millions of pounds worth of stolen items.
Police enquiries suggest the goods were stolen from major retailers including Apple, Holland & Barrett, Boots and Waitrose.
Price tags linked the items to offences committed in London’s West End and across police force areas nationwide.
Superintendent Natasha Evans, the Met's policing lead for the West End, said: “This investigation demonstrates that we are not only targeting prolific offenders who commit thefts, but also those who handle and profit from stolen goods, helping to drive this cycle of criminality.
“Organised retail crime has a significant impact on businesses, retail workers and local communities.
“That is why it is encouraging to see shoplifting across London fall by 3.7 per cent last year – around 3,500 fewer offences.
“Where criminality does remain, both thieves and those involved in handling stolen goods should be in no doubt that they will not be allowed to operate with impunity.
“We will continue to pursue offenders, disrupt organised criminal networks and bring those responsible to justice.”
