A CRACKDOWN on shoplifters is being launched by police in Devizes, supermarkets and other major retailers in the town.

Inspector Matthew Armstrong told Devizes Town Council he was worried about the number of thefts from shops including M&S, Sainsbury’s, Superdrug and Wilkinsons.

He said: “These thefts take up a lot of police time and it would be good if we could work with the stores to make it more difficult for offenders.”

He said shops such as M&S, which has exits at the back and front, made it easier for shoplifters to make a quick getaway.

When M&S had a security guard the number of thefts dropped dramatically. But the store no longer employs a security officer.

Sgt Vincent Logue believes better use could be made of the StoreNet system which was introduced into Devizes in 2009.

He said: "The system is still working but it could be more effective if more traders were involved.

"We already have a good relationship with shops in the town but we do want to work with them as closely as possible to cut down on shoplifting, which can be very time consuming for officers and take them away from other duties.”

Sgt Logue said the vast majority of theft from shops was done by a small group of people that were known to the police.

He said: "We know who they are and try and keep an eye on them as much as possible. They go for high price items such as meat and alcohol. The StoreNet system would allow traders to warn each other and us if they were seen in town.”

Last December Devizes police campaigned successfully against known shoplifters using plain clothed officers.

Sgt Logue said: "It worked well and we would intend repeating it this year."

Noel Woolrych who looks after the system as part of his role as manager of the town's CCTV said: "StoreNet is a great system and has shown it can prevent crime but it needs to be used properly.

"More stores need to be involved and they need to make sure they use their radios.

"In the past it has put shoplifters off as the stores have warned each other about individuals operating and a security person has been at the door waiting to warn them off.

"In the end they have given up and gone home."

He said that crime would fall if M&S closed its back door and went back to employing a security guard. He also said that some supermarkets played down the amount of shoplifting that went on as they did not want to admit the scale of the problem.

He said: "It is something that is costing all of us a lot of money in wasted police time."

A spokesman for Sainsbury's said: "We work very closely with the police in Devizes.

"As well as being a member of the StoreNet system, we have security and CCTV cameras in store to help prevent and detect any incidents."