BOURNEMOUTH Neighbourhood Patrol has arrested 16 shoplifters in an effort to combat offences in local stores.

The efforts to combat shoplifting in BCP has resulted in 16 arrests of shoplifting offenders, one store owner arrested for handling stolen goods and issued with a licence warning, over £4,000 of seized returned stock and over 60 detected crimes detected.

The operation also led to two Community Behavioural Orders (CBO) issued alongside prison sentences at court and two more CBO's pending, with suspects outstanding for a court warrant and sentencing.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "None of this could have happened without the help and support from you!

"Our eyes and ears in the local area. Please keep reporting any community issues, and we will target where needed."

In early 2023, Dorset Police received community intelligence about prolific shoplifters in Southbourne.

Police Constable Philpott used the information to start a shoplifting operation called Operation Turnover.

Since the start of the operation, Bournemouth NPT has liaised with stores to identify the priority offenders.

The suspects were targeted through partnership work with MitieSecurity, Bournemouth North NPT, Dorset Police Licencing Department and local community contacts.