Officers arresting a man with a rucksack full of over-the-counter medication detained a second person in the same shop for allegedly stealing meat.
The officers were on their way to work when they arrested the first man on suspicion of shoplifting from a Sainsbury’s store in Bethnal Green, east London.
The Metropolitan Police’s Tower Hamlets unit said the man was found with 39 boxes of over-the-counter medication, and 13 bars of chocolate, worth a total of £280.
Officers were about to leave the shop with the man when they made a second arrest – of a man allegedly attempting to steal over £50 of meat.
Both men were charged and remanded in custody to appear in court.
Read more from Sky News:
Stars say goodbye to Liam Payne at funeral
More snow to fall as warnings issued
It comes as an exclusive Sky News and Association of Convenience Stores survey revealed that 80% of shopkeepers reported a retail crime within a week in October.
The poll also found 94% of shopkeepers say that in their experience, shoplifting has got worse over the last year, with 83% not confident the police will take action against the perpetrators of retail crime on their premises.