Police in Birmingham have launched a major crackdown on retail crime after local businesses in a city suburb reported being plagued by persistent thefts.
Major police operation in Selly Oak
The Selly Oak neighbourhood team took decisive action following numerous complaints from shopkeepers and residents about ongoing shoplifting incidents affecting local stores.
West Midlands Police has now charged three individuals from Birmingham with a total of 57 offences committed in the area, marking a significant development in the fight against retail crime.
The suspects and their charges
Stuart O'Donnell, 51, of no fixed address, faces the most serious allegations with 29 separate shop theft charges. Additionally, he has been charged with two counts of robbery, possession of a knife, and assaulting an emergency worker.
Lisa Harbun, 30, of Dormstone Drive in Weoley Castle, has been charged with 18 shop thefts, two assaults and one attempted theft from a shop.
Kathleen Lyons, 53, of Ludstone Road in Weoley Castle, faces 10 charges of theft from shops.
All three suspects are scheduled to appear in court later this month to answer these charges.
Police crackdown on retail crime
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police emphasised their commitment to tackling shoplifting: "We know the distress and trouble persistent shop thefts can cause businesses, and we are taking action across the force."
The police are employing multiple strategies to combat this issue, including:
- Seeking custodial sentences for offenders
- Regularly applying for Criminal Behaviour Orders against persistent thieves
- Using these orders to ban individuals from visiting places where they are known to offend
The force revealed impressive statistics demonstrating their increased efforts against shoplifting. In the first four months of 2025 alone, West Midlands Police made 1,272 arrests for shop thefts, representing a significant increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Furthermore, during the first quarter of 2025, the force detected more shoplifting offences than any other police force in the country, highlighting their determined approach to protecting local businesses from retail crime.
