A prolific shoplifter who stole £14,656 worth of products during a month’s stealing spree has been sentenced to prison.
Michael Hollingsworth, 42, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to 16 counts of theft, after targeting the same store on Aldgate High Street between 24 December 2025 and 26 January 2026.
Hollingsworth was caught on CCTV grabbing multiple items from the shop shelves and putting them into a bag.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Sergeant James Wood, of the Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team at the City of London Police, said:
“We have seen successes in arresting and putting prolific shoplifters behind bars.
“The extensive CCTV network across the City, and inside stores, has helped us in identifying offenders and getting evidence of their criminality.
“Our warning to criminals; don’t come into the Square Mile to commit an offence. If you do, you risk being spotted by CCTV cameras and we will track you down, arrest you and bring you to justice.
“We will continue our work in targeting criminals, including having our plain-clothed officers looking out for offenders, intercepting them and making arrests.”
The City of London Police have been working with retailers in the City in tackling shoplifting, with Neighbourhood Policing officers asking shops to report all thefts from their stores.
By working alongside retailers, the force has made significant progress in reducing the number of shoplifting offences; driven by more plain-clothed operations, evidence gathering, surveillance and the use of CCTV.
