A Camden man has been jailed after stealing thousands of pounds worth of high-end perfume from a luxury store in a seven-month shoplifting spree.
A prolific shoplifter from North London has been sentenced to 35 weeks in prison after repeatedly targeting the same City of London perfume shop, making off with nearly £7,000 worth of goods.
Phillip Themistockli, 43, of Helston Street in Camden, struck the Cheapside-based store on at least seven occasions between May and December 2024. Each time, he helped himself to multiple bottles of perfume—sometimes worth hundreds in a single visit.
In one particularly bold theft, Themistockli filled an entire basket with luxury scents valued at £1,750 and simply walked out. His actions were caught on CCTV, leading to his eventual identification and arrest by the City of London Police.
Thanks to footage from the store and the City’s extensive surveillance network, investigators were able to track Themistockli’s movements. He was arrested and later admitted guilt to all seven counts of theft.
Appearing in court, he was sentenced to 35 weeks in custody. He also received a 15-month suspended sentence and a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) prohibiting him from entering the City of London until 2030.
Police Issue Warning to Offenders
Detective Sergeant Helen Bentley from the City of London Police’s Suspect and Offender Management Team emphasised the impact of such crimes: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime; it can cause significant alarm and distress to retail staff, as well as members of the public.
“We want retailers to come forward and report any crime so we can start investigations. Through the store’s CCTV and our extensive camera network in the City, we will bring criminals to justice.
“CBOs are designed to tackle the most serious and persistent anti-social individuals, and if Phillip Themistockli breaches his CBO conditions, we can arrest him and put him back before the courts.”
The case serves as a warning to persistent shoplifters who believe they can repeatedly target retail businesses without consequence. The Criminal Behaviour Order not only restricts Themistockli’s movements for the next five years but also ensures a swift return to court if he offends again.
Themistockli’s sentence highlights a growing focus on tackling retail crime across central London. With CCTV surveillance playing a crucial role in securing justice, police are urging other retailers to report incidents promptly.
