In a peculiar incident, law enforcement officers discovered a shoplifter hiding inside a bin. The police shared a video capturing the moment they found the woman attempting to evade detection in an unconventional location. Upon opening the bin, they revealed the woman crouching inside, who then emerged before the bin tipped over.
Following the woman’s exit from the bin, the police retrieved a large carrier bag and jokingly remarked, “lovely stuff, perfect.” Hertfordshire Police officers, amused by the situation, mocked the woman’s unusual choice of hiding spot.
In the video footage, one officer can be heard saying, “I’ve got the female. Just out of the bin for me, lovely.” Another officer approached with a smile, asking, “Where you bin?” To which the first officer responded, “Rubbish hiding place wasn’t in.”
Hertfordshire Police released the clip as part of their announcement regarding over 60 arrests made in Welwyn Hatfield to combat shoplifting. Operation Hornet, initiated during the 2025 holiday season, focused on addressing shoplifting in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield town centers, deploying plain-clothes officers to targeted retail crime hotspots.
The shared video depicted additional shoplifters apprehended by the police, suspected of stealing items such as alcohol and designer perfumes. The operation resulted in 64 arrests, with 158 offenses charged, amounting to over £41,000 worth of stolen goods. Furthermore, 32 Community Resolutions were issued, 29 ASB powers utilized, and six individuals have been incarcerated.
Chief Inspector Pete Frost of Welwyn Hatfield expressed satisfaction with the operation’s outcomes, highlighting the collaboration with local businesses in combating shoplifting. He emphasized the significant role played by effective relationships with retailers in resolving incidents and reducing offending behavior through various interventions and punitive measures. Frost extended gratitude to the local business community for their support during the operation.
