Civilian “super-recognisers” are being urged to help lock up burglars.
Det Ch Insp Phil Rickells handed the photographs of 40 people wanted in connection with burglary to the Recorder this week in the hope that members of the public can point them out and give information.
He said: “I wanted to put them out in the press as when we had the riots we had a lot of ‘super-recognisers’ who can look at pictures and recognise them.
“I thought: ‘there must be super-recognisers out there in the public too’.”
See the photo gallery in the bar on the right.
This year Scotland Yard formed an elite team of 200 officers to identify suspected criminals.
Officials say they tripled the number of successful identifications they make every week.
“Some people are very good at recognising faces. We see this every week on Crimewatch.” said Mr Rickells.
“This is a drive to get more arrests. I think if we get one [suspect] now, we stop burglaries in the future.”
The drive is part of the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Bumblebee, which aims to lock up more burglars.
Over the past 12 months there have been 2,620 burglaries in homes and businesses reported to police. This is a 7.8 per cent reduction on last year.
Mr Rickells said: “We want to keep the amount down and we want to increase our detections, that is why we are coming to the public.”
The pictures all come from CCTV footage over the past three years.
“In this day and age CCTV cameras are everywhere – in shopping centres, restaurants and even private places such as homes,” he said.
“Three of the suspects are males who hid themselves in The Brewery and committed thefts once it had closed.
“Obviously, I want to know who they are.”
He added: “One of the biggest faults people make is failing to double lock their double-glazed front doors.
“Burglars can easily get the door open and then they’re in.
“People can vastly improve their security by making sure their front door is secure.”
If anyone recognises anyone in these images, please contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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