Radio link leads police in Mansfield shoplifter within seconds
A shoplifter was chased down and arrested within seconds after stealing items from a shop in Mansfield – thanks to a shared local radio network.
Neighbourhood officers on routine patrol were alerted to the theft of four Bluetooth speakers from a shop in the Four Seasons Shopping Centre shortly before 2.30pm on February 11.
After following the suspect from the scene, a member of shop staff made a call on the Town Link Radio system – immediately alerting nearby officers to the crime.
A 31-year-old woman was arrested and later charged with theft.
The Town Link Radio network is administered by the Mansfield Business Improvement District (BID), with handsets used by shop staff, police officers, CCTV operators and door staff in the night-time economy.
Since its introduction, it has become a vital tool in combating shoplifting in the town – helping to drive a reduction of 35 per cent since 2023.
Sgt Catherine Darby, of the town centre policing team, said: “With offences of this nature, time is of the essence, so hearing about these incidents in real time and being able to intervene immediately is really useful to us.
“On this occasion we were able to detain and arrest a suspect almost immediately after the call, and to recover the items she was carrying.”
Shop theft remains a key priority for the town centre policing team, whose members have worked hard to target prolific offenders in the town centre and travelling gangs from further afield.
Eight people are currently subject to Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs), which prohibit them from entering certain businesses or areas of the town centre and can also prevent them from carrying out certain activities.
Breaches of those orders are standalone offences and can lead to an almost immediate jail sentence.