In a swift operation, a CCTV officer helped track and apprehend five individuals engaged in a ‘steaming’ attack at JD Sports on Ilford High Road.
Redbridge Council’s CCTV Team is playing a crucial role in making local communities safer, with its vigilance leading to the recent arrest of a violent gang involved in multiple incidents in Ilford.
In a swift operation, a CCTV officer helped track and apprehend five individuals engaged in a ‘steaming’ attack at JD Sports on Ilford High Road. This type of organised crime sees groups storm into stores, threaten staff, and steal high-value goods. The same gang had previously attempted a theft at a vape shop in Ilford Town Centre and was linked to another incident at JD Sports.
The alert was raised when the CCTV Team picked up a distress call from JD Sports reporting a large group engaged in aggressive shoplifting. A vigilant CCTV officer immediately monitored the situation live and saw a store staff member restraining one suspect while the remaining four acted violently, threatening employees and attempting to damage property.
Recognising the severity of the incident, the CCTV Team swiftly directed cameras to cover all possible escape routes. They provided real-time updates and descriptions of the suspects to the Met Contact Centre (MetCC), which manages emergency and non-emergency calls. As the situation escalated, the gang kicked at the store’s shutters before attempting to flee. However, with the CCTV Team’s constant updates, police officers were swiftly deployed to the scene and successfully tracked down and arrested all five suspects.
“The Council’s CCTV Team played a vital role in providing real-time intelligence to our police officers on the ground, who then managed to track and arrest the suspects.”
- Clare McCarthy, Head of Neighbourhood Policing
Two of the individuals were found hiding in Spice Hut restaurant in Barkingside, another was caught on Ilford High Road, and the remaining two were intercepted on a local bus route. Following the arrests, police officers visited the CCTV Centre to collect the footage as evidence.
Council and Police Welcome Arrests
Councillor Khayer Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, praised the CCTV Team’s rapid response, saying: “We want people to feel safe in our borough. That’s why we’ve continued to invest in extensive CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera networks.
“I’m pleased that the quick-thinking of our CCTV Team, in partnership with the police, led to the arrest of a violent gang in one of our town centres. We will continue working with our partners to ensure criminals and those engaging in antisocial behaviour are held accountable.”
Superintendent Clare McCarthy, Head of Neighbourhood Policing in Redbridge, also commended the coordinated response, stating: “This incident is a great example of our strong community safety partnership with the council.
“The Council’s CCTV Team played a key role in providing real-time intelligence, enabling our officers to track and arrest the suspects quickly. Without their swift intervention, this gang could have escaped and continued their crime spree across Ilford.
“These arrests send a strong message to criminals: We will find you, arrest you, and put you before the courts.”
A Growing Network of Surveillance
The suspects have been bailed pending further investigation, but their arrests highlight the effectiveness of Redbridge’s growing CCTV network in tackling crime.
With over 700 surveillance cameras operating across the borough, the CCTV control room has played a critical role in more than 315 arrests in 2024 alone. Ilford town centre now has 78 public space CCTV cameras, contributing to the borough-wide total of 763 cameras, which continues to expand.
Every ward in Redbridge now has a dedicated Safer Neighbourhood Team, working to address local crime and antisocial behaviour.
Residents are encouraged to report any crimes or concerns to their local police team. In emergencies, always dial 999. For non-urgent incidents, reports can be made through the Met Police’s online reporting service. Public cooperation remains vital in ensuring the continued safety and security of the community.
