Co-op and Devon and Cornwall Police double retail crime solve rate

A technology partnership between Co-op and Devon and Cornwall Police using the SentrySIS platform has nearly doubled the solve rate for shop theft cases, reaching almost 60 per cent. The system allows store staff to upload incident details, CCTV, and photos immediately, enabling police to record and allocate crimes in as little as 30 minutes, compared to a traditional process that could take up to seven days.

Data indicates that 90 per cent of identified shop theft offenders are repeat offenders, with 50 individuals responsible for approximately one quarter of all shop theft offences in the region. SentrySIS assists in tracking these prolific offenders by connecting multiple offences to the same individual. The platform has also reduced the average time for investigations to reach an outcome by more than a third, down to 35 days.

Following a successful pilot, the system has been activated across all Co-op stores in Devon and Cornwall. Discussions are currently underway with other police forces to expand the technology. Co-op reported that its overall retail crime levels have decreased by almost 20 per cent year-on-year.