CCTV shows man appearing to take earrings from till display at Southall shop
The footage was filmed at the A To Z store in Southall on 20 October. Shop owners in the town say thefts like this are happening far too often.
CCTV footage shared with UB1UB2 appears to show a man taking earrings from a display at the till of a shop in Southall and walking out of the store seconds later.
The footage was recorded on 20 October at A To Z, a shop in Southall that sells household goods, gifts and toys. It shows a busy, packed shop floor, with several people walking down a narrow aisle towards the counter.
In the footage, a man appears to take earrings from the display under the till. Within seconds he heads for the door and leaves the shop.
The Metropolitan Police has not confirmed whether the incident was reported, or whether anyone has been arrested. No one has been charged.
Traders' concerns
Shop owners in Southall say thefts like this are happening far too often. Many independent shops in the town keep small, valuable items such as jewellery, phone accessories and cosmetics close to the counter, but say this does not always stop thieves.
For small family businesses, the cost of stolen stock is felt directly. Many traders say staff are left to handle the problem themselves, often while serving other customers at the same time.
Shoplifting and theft are among the issues local police teams in Southall have listed as priorities. The Met's Southall Green neighbourhood team has previously named tackling theft and shoplifting in and around King Street as one of its aims, and has worked with large retailers in the area to reduce it.
The Met's crackdown on retail crime
The Metropolitan Police has been running a wider crackdown on retail crime across London. In 2026 the force said new technology had quadrupled the number of shoplifters being brought to justice where offences were reported. That technology has since been rolled out in Ealing.
Officers in the borough have also carried out targeted operations against repeat shoplifters. These have led to arrests and other enforcement action against people police describe as persistent offenders.
Police have repeatedly urged shops to report every theft, however small. Officers say reports, especially those backed by clear CCTV, help them spot patterns, identify repeat offenders and decide where to send patrols.
How to report shoplifting
Businesses and members of the public can report shoplifting to the Metropolitan Police online or by calling 101. If a theft is happening now, or anyone is in danger, call 999.
Anyone with information about this incident can contact the police on 101. Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.