Co-op and Devon & Cornwall Police see shop crime solve rates double

The SentrySIS platform has transformed how regional retailers handle security incidents. Data indicates that crimes reported through the system now achieve a 60% solve rate, significantly outpacing traditional reporting channels. The technology allows store colleagues to upload CCTV footage, photos, and impact statements, enabling police to allocate cases in as little as 30 minutes—a task that previously required up to seven days. This efficiency has reduced the average investigation time by more than a third to 35 days.

Intelligence gathered during the pilot highlights the concentrated nature of retail theft. Statistics show that 90% of identified shoplifters are repeat offenders, with just 50 individuals responsible for a quarter of all shop theft incidents in the force area. By linking multiple offences to the same individuals, the system helps officers build more robust cases against these prolific offenders. While Co-op reports a 20% year-on-year drop in overall retail crime and a notable decline in physical assaults, the retailer maintains that incident levels remain twice as high as pre-pandemic figures.