London shoplifter jailed for £100,000 Boots thefts; 12 months and ban

Liam Hutchinson, a 32-year-old from west London, has been jailed for 12 months after committing 99 shoplifting offences, largely at Boots stores in Chelsea and Kensington. He is believed to have stolen about £100,000 worth of Boots products, according to court records. Hutchinson was also handed a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from every Boots in the UK for 10 years and was barred from entering the borough of Chelsea and Kensington for five years.

Investigators from the Metropolitan Police worked with Boots staff to build the case, reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage. The force said Hutchinson repeatedly targeted Boots outlets, often lifting large quantities of electrical items and razors, with one clip showing him placing items into a bag as he is confronted by a shopworker and making for the exit. Another video shows him loading his bag while bystanders look on, and a third shows him reaching high shelves and slipping items into his coat pocket.

Sergeant Jack Vine, of the Met's Volume Crime Team in central London, said Hutchinson had targeted Boots stores across Chelsea and Kensington, costing the business about £107,000 in lost revenue. “We recognised the impact Hutchinson's actions were having on the retailer, and through working with staff, we built a strong case of evidence against him, which has been reflected in his sentencing. This result should act as a warning that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated, and that we will come down hard on those who show a complete disregard for the law, terrorise retail workers and cost businesses thousands of pounds.”

Nicky Harrop, Head of Security, Fraud and Contract Management at Boots, said the retailer has invested in measures to deter and disrupt criminal activity, stop theft, protect team members, and support the police with high-quality evidence. “Tackling the growing levels of retail crime is a collaborative effort, so we're pleased to work alongside the Metropolitan Police to ensure our stores remain a safe and respectful environment for our team members and customers.”

The case sits within a wider retail crime trend that has drawn national attention. In a separate case, Bianca Mirica, a 20-year-old Romanian thief described in court as part of a female-led gang, was jailed for 32 months after being linked to a theft spree at Boots stores. Mirica pinched around £120,000 worth of items, though police sources previously said Boots suspected the total could be closer to £300,000. The broader gang reportedly operated through distraction tactics, with other members clearing shelves as the thefts unfolded. Retail crime cost the industry about £2.2 billion in 2023 and 2024, an all-time peak, equating to more than 55,000 incidents per day.

Met police say they will continue to pursue persistent shoplifters through intelligence-led patrols as part of ongoing efforts to deter crime and protect retail workers and customers.