A new business forum has been created in a bid to reduce retail crime and improve unreported theft in high street stores in Chiswick.

Led by Sergeant Dave Turtle, of Turnham Green ward, the first ever Chiswick business leaders forum, on Thursday (11), revealed crimes faced by retailers and restaurateurs in their stores.

Some shocking examples included people running off without paying in restaurants, in one case the bill amounted to about £200, and one store revealed it had almost £3,000 worth of stock stolen a week.

The event was held at Marks & Spencers on Chiswick High Road , and attended by a number of business owners and senior managers from Jackson and Rye, Lend Lease property developers, Campbells Chemist, Natwest and Waitrose.

Sgt Turtle said: "We are looking at brand new scheme to help retailers and businesses to deal with anti social behaviour and crime within their stores which will help make Chiswick a safer place.

"This is an exciting time for Chiswick.

"This marks a real opportunity to drive down the low level of crime that exists in Chiswick but also to improve the relatively high volume of crime in some stores that remains unreported and undetected.

"We want to ensure that working and living in Chiswick is an enjoyable and safe environment. "

Over the coming months there will be a huge focus on reporting and reducing street crime from mobile phone theft in cafes and restaurants to shoplifting in retail stores.

Debbie Dobson of Hounslow Business Against Crime (HBAC) gave a presentation offering support in enhancing a store link radio and providing training in deterring crime.

Ms Dobson of HBAC, said: "This was a great start.

"We can now take this forward and develop an engagement process and help to make businesses aware of  crime prevention measures to make Chiswick safer. "

Recently, a good working partnership between police and a Chiswick business led to the sentencing of a wine thief in under 24 hours.

The move is part of the Mayor's office looking at London-wide reductions in crime and supporting businesses to drive down volumes of crime faced by retailers today.