A man has been charged with more than 40 theft offences as part of an ongoing Metropolitan Police investigation into widespread shoplifting across Waltham Forest.

Mark Stavrou, 32, of Sherwood Close, Walthamstow, has been charged with:

• 41 counts of theft

• 2 counts of burglary

• 1 count of criminal damage

He was arrested on Thursday, 21 July, in connection with a string of thefts from supermarkets and petrol stations across Chingford. The offences occurred between 10 May and 31 July 2025.

Stavrou is expected to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court today (Friday, 1 August) to face the new charges.

The Met confirmed that Stavrou is already facing 67 burglary charges from earlier investigations. He is due to enter a plea for those offences at the same court on Thursday, 7 August.

Police say the case is part of a wider crackdown on retail crime and repeat offenders in North East London.