Serial shoplifters caught stealing thousands from same Tesco over 30 times

Two prolific shoplifters who repeatedly targeted the same Tesco Express store in East London have finally been caught after brazenly looting thousands of pounds worth of alcohol and other goods during more than 30 separate visits.

Garvey Powell and Carmen Sinclair were identified by police following a meticulous investigation involving dozens of hours of CCTV footage, as officers and store staff worked side by side to build a case that would stick.

The pair had made the Old Street branch in Hackney their personal hunting ground, returning time and again to carry out swift, high-value thefts—often making off with hundreds of pounds worth of wine in less than 60 seconds.

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Sometimes, they struck the same shop multiple times in a single day, leaving Tesco with not only significant financial losses in stolen stock, but also forced to ramp up security measures at a substantial additional cost.

Following their arrest on March 13, one determined officer spent 33 hours pulling together evidence to ensure charges could be brought, highlighting just how much police were willing to invest to put an end to the spree.

That work paid off when Powell and Sinclair were formally charged the very next day.

Sergeant Adam Hunter from the Metropolitan Police’s local policing team said that the outcome was a direct result of officers’ dedication to tackling retail crime, which he noted has knock-on effects on wider anti-social behaviour and criminality.

“Shoplifting doesn’t just hurt businesses—it undermines the community and emboldens further law-breaking,” he said.

“These two caused significant financial damage to Tesco, and we’re satisfied that justice is being served.”

CCTV played a central role in unravelling the scale of the thefts.

Powell was seen entering the shop with a rucksack or large bag, systematically loading it with bottles of wine while Sinclair kept watch or assisted.

Their repeat visits to the store and the speed of their thefts suggest a level of planning and confidence that shocked even seasoned officers.

Tesco has welcomed the result of the investigation and praised the joint efforts of law enforcement and their own internal security teams.

“Our staff come to work to serve their communities—they deserve to feel safe doing so,” a Tesco spokesperson said.

“We’re grateful to the police and everyone involved for helping us hold these offenders to account.

We remain committed to working closely with authorities to strengthen the safety of our stores.”

Powell, aged 45, admitted 19 counts of theft as well as breaching bail conditions.

He appeared before Thames Magistrates’ Court where he was sentenced to nine months behind bars and handed a five-year criminal behaviour order.

One of the terms prohibits him from carrying any kind of bag or rucksack while in Hackney—a clear move to prevent a repeat of his previous tactics.

Sinclair, 47, also pleaded guilty, admitting to 12 counts of theft. She is due to be sentenced at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on April 22.

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SOURCE: Two serial shoplifters caught pinching thousands of pounds worth of goods from same Tesco store over 30 times | Need To Know