Police have put plain-clothes officers on Crouch End Broadway, focusing on the stretch from Boots to Waitrose, after a rise in theft and shoplifting there. The local policing priority was set on 28 October and covers numbers 1 to 11.
Officers say they have recently caught shoplifters while patrolling out of uniform, and that they are targeting prolific offenders and seeking "CBOs" against them. The entry does not spell out the term, or say how many arrests have been made.
If you work on that stretch, the patrols are not a reason to stop reporting thefts. Arrests of repeat offenders are what will show whether the approach is working.
- Police set a local priority on 28 October about a rise in theft and shoplifting on the Broadway, N8.
- Plain-clothes patrols focus on numbers 1 to 11 Crouch End Broadway, from Boots to Waitrose.
- Officers say they have recently caught shoplifters on plain-clothes patrol.
- Police are targeting prolific offenders and seeking CBOs; the entry does not define the term or give arrest numbers.
- This is the second time since September the Broadway has been named a shoplifting priority.
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 5 November 2026.
- www.police.uk/pu/your-area/ (police_neighbourhood_priority)
Claim by claim (5 facts, 1 editorial judgements)
- Police set a local priority on 28 October about a rise in theft and shoplifting on the Broadway, N8. — police_neighbourhood_priority, 2026-10-28“Shoplifting/Thefts - Rise in theft/shoplifting offences on Broadway N8.”
- Plain-clothes patrols focus on numbers 1 to 11 Crouch End Broadway, from Boots to Waitrose. — police_neighbourhood_priority, 2026-10-28“Plain clothed patrols in Crouch End Broadway - Focusing on the area between number 1 - 11 Crouch End Broadway (Boots to Waitrose).”
- Officers say they have recently caught shoplifters on plain-clothes patrol. — police_neighbourhood_priority, 2026-10-28“Officers have been successful recently in apprehending shoplifters when patrolling in plain clothes.”
- Police are targeting prolific offenders and seeking CBOs; the entry does not define the term or give arrest numbers. — police_neighbourhood_priority, 2026-10-28“Target prolific offenders and getting CBOs”
- This is the second time since September the Broadway has been named a shoplifting priority. — police_neighbourhood_priority, 2026-10-28“Local policing priority: Shoplifting/Thefts - Rise in theft/shoplifting offences on Broadway N8.”
- Judgement: Arrests of repeat offenders are what will show whether the approach is working; traders should keep reporting thefts.
