A prolific shoplifter who stole thousands of pounds worth of skincare products from stores across London has today been jailed. 

Alfie Ronaldson, 22, was sentenced at Kingston-Upon-Thames Crown Court to two and half years imprisonment and banned from all Boots, Superdrug, and Iceland stores in the UK for ten years, after previously pleading guilty to more than 50 offences. 

The court heard that on a number of occasions between April 2024 and June 2025, Ronaldson, of New Malden, entered stores, primarily across the Richmond, Kingston, Merton and Wandsworth boroughs and stole more than £50,000 worth of face cream and skincare products. 

He mostly targeted Boots stores, but also stole from Superdrugs and an Iceland store. 

Ronaldson entered the stores and grabbed items off the shelf, putting them into a carrier bag, before walking out without paying. In total he stole £54,164 worth of goods.

When staff attempted to challenge him, the thief became aggressive and threatened them, and on one occasion assaulted a member of staff in a Superdrug store by punching them in the face. 

Ronaldson was prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

Gurvinder Singh Bhakar, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Alfie Ronaldson was a one-man crime wave who stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of products from stores across London in a sustained and prolific campaign of shoplifting. 

“He was aggressive and threatened shop workers who tried to get in his way. Retail workers have the right to go to work without fear of abuse or violence and harm caused by this kind of offending extends beyond financial loss — it affects the livelihoods of businesses, the wellbeing of staff, and the safety of our communities.

“The CPS will always prosecute shoplifters if the evidence supports and work with police to make sure offenders are brought before the courts.”

Due to the nature of his offending, prosecutors submitted to the court that the custody threshold had been passed and applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) to be made to further restrict his behaviour following his release from prison.