West London Greggs Thief Nicknamed 'Hamster' by Staff Stole Nearly £2,000 in Food
A serial thief nicknamed "Hamster" by staff members stole almost £2,000 worth of food from the same Greggs bakery in West London over a six-week period, a court has heard. The 39-year-old defendant, Adam Gosling, targeted the Greenford branch of the popular bakery chain 38 times between December 30, 2025, and February 10, 2026.
Six-Week Theft Spree Amounted to 1,817 Sausage Rolls
Prosecutors at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court revealed that Gosling's theft spree totaled £1,817.50, which is equivalent to approximately 1,817 sausage rolls from the bakery chain. The value of individual thefts ranged from £12.30 to £100 per visit, with some days seeing multiple incidents at the same location.
According to court documents, Greggs staff had noticed a significant increase in thefts at their Greenford branch and began meticulously logging each incident. Police community support officer James Tupman from the Metropolitan Police's Greenford Broadway safer neighbourhood team explained that one particular individual, nicknamed "Hamster" by employees, quickly became their most prolific thief.
Homeless Defendant Receives Suspended Sentence
Police identified Gosling through CCTV footage and arrested him on February 10. The court heard that Gosling, who is currently homeless, pleaded guilty to all 38 counts of shop theft. Chairwoman of the magistrates bench Judy Gregg sentenced him to four months in prison, suspended for one year.
Following the sentencing, Officer Tupman praised the collaborative effort between law enforcement and Greggs staff, stating: "This result is the direct outcome of strong partnership work with Greggs staff, who have been exceptionally proactive in recording offences and supporting our investigation. The volume of thefts had a significant impact on the business, and our officers worked tirelessly to gather evidence, identify the offender, and implement long-term measures to prevent reoffending."
The case highlights the ongoing challenges retailers face with persistent shoplifting and the importance of cooperation between businesses and local law enforcement to address such crimes effectively.
