Greggs brings in 'robocops' which can sound 120-decibel sirens and flashing lights in bid to deter shoplifters

Published: 10:18, 9 August 2026 | Updated: 10:22, 9 August 2026 Greggs are deploying anti-crime pods supplied by police as part of a trial to tackle shoplifters. The 'robocops' have been seen in London stores, including Croydon, Brixton, Peckham and Whitechapel and in other areas across the UK, such as Coventry, Birmingham and Nottingham. Manufactured by security firm Safer Group, the Safe POD S1/X1 captures CCTV footage which is monitored by 24-hour remote security guards who are alerted immediately to any incident. The solar-powered device features 120-decibel 'high intensity sounders' and flashing lights. It can be controlled by shop managers with an app, allowing them to arm and disarm it at any time. Safer Group have supplied their customisable pods to various 'high profile projects across sectors, from construction to retail, rail and national infrastructure', according to their website. The Home Office, Transport for London and Lancashire, Durham and Merseyside Police are all listed as clients. Others include construction industry giants Taylor Whimpey and Balfour Beatty. Other retail stores that have trialled them with the help of Safer Group and their local police forces are Boots, Home Bargains, Mountain Warehouse, and Waterstones. Shoplifting in Greggs has become so rampant that the bakery chain turned some stores in the most heavily impacted areas, such as London, Birmingham and Nottingham, into 'fortress stores'. Manufactured by security firm Safer Group, the Safe POD S1/X1 captures CCTV footage which is monitored constantly by 24-hour remote security guards who are alerted immediately to any incident (Pictured: A Safe Pod inside Greggs in Nuneaton) Adam Gosling shoplifting from a branch of Greggs in Greenford, west London, in 2025 Gosling, 39, was spared jail after stealing £1,817 of food and drink from Greggs This meant removing its self-service displays and locking the fridges to address the stealing and stop threats to staff. Another anti-theft system has quadrupled the number of convictions for the crime, the Met Police said last week. The software allows Met officers to receive CCTV footage directly from retailers instead of through an online portal used previously, cutting wait times for evidence from 28 days to mere minutes. Scotland Yard said the technology was being used by shops including Greggs, Tesco, Boots and M&S. After being caught stealing on camera, 55-year-old Michael Belgrave was sentenced to nine months in prison and a five-year criminal behaviour order after stealing more than £4,000 of goods from shops including Greggs and BP. Meanwhile, Adam Gosling, 39, was spared jail after stealing £1,817 of food and drink from Greggs in Greenford, west London. He targeted the chain 38 times between December 30, 2025, and February 10, with the value of items stolen each time ranging from £12 to £100 per visit. When using the new system, the Met said there was a caution, charge or other criminal order in 29.4 per cent of cases, compared to an average of 7.3 per cent before. It comes after shocking figures released in April revealed shoplifting offences reported to police in England and Wales have more than doubled in five years. The study found just one in five of those are resulting in a charge. Total thefts rose by 133 per cent from 228,128 in 2020/21 to 530,457 in 2024/25, according to House of Commons Library data analysed by the Liberal Democrats. Michael Belgrave was sentenced to nine months in prison and handed a five-year criminal behaviour order after being caught on CCTV during a £4,000 shoplifting spree But just 19.8 per cent of offences in 2024/25 resulted in a charge being made - with the worst rate coming from the Metropolitan Police, which was only 6.5 per cent. British Transport Police had a charge rate of 10.8 per cent, then Gloucestershire at 11.9 per cent, Avon and Somerset at 12.2 per cent and Dyfed-Powys at 14.3 per cent. It comes as London retailers face an escalating shoplifting crisis with the Met having reported 93,626 cases in 2024/25, up 202 per cent from 31,008 in 2020/21. Durham Constabulary had the best record, bringing charges in 32.7 per cent of cases in 2024/25, followed by Humberside at 31.9 per cent and Norfolk at 30.6 per cent. Greggs have been approached for comment.