Ryan Kiely, 34, a homeless man with a history of theft, was caught stealing from a BP garage on Lee High Road on February 25. Staff noticed him leaving the store with unpaid goods valued at £85. When Kiely attempted to flee, police pursued him on foot and quickly apprehended him, recovering the stolen food and drink.
Further investigation revealed that Kiely was wanted on recall to prison and was breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO). CCTV footage and witness statements linked him to two additional shoplifting incidents at the same BP location. He faced six charges in total: three for shoplifting and three for breaching his CBO.
Kiely’s case was fast-tracked at Bromley Magistrates’ Court. He was found guilty the following day, remanded immediately, and sentenced to 16 weeks in prison.
Chief Inspector Rav Pathania, the Metropolitan Police’s retail crime lead, commented on the case: “This conviction shows the Met’s focus on hitting repeat offenders who harm businesses and communities.” He added, “We work closely with retailers to gather solid evidence, use tools like Criminal Behaviour Orders, and get prolific criminals before the courts fast.”
Chief Inspector Pathania also highlighted the role of new officers in the arrest, stating, “It’s worth noting the officers who caught Kiely were new recruits, proving our commitment to smashing community crime and beefing up neighbourhood policing.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
