Jail for knife-wielding robber identified using facial rec tech

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A knife-wielding shoplifter from Cardiff was jailed at Newport Crown Court earlier today. 
Omar Karshe, 44, of Spencer Street, Cathays, had pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing a knife in a public place, following an incident which happened on City Road in December.
Karshe walked into the Tesco Express shop on City Road with an empty carrier bag. A customer reported him to the security guard in the shop as she believed he was shoplifting. When he was approached, Karshe ran to the back of the store. Realising his exit was blocked, he pulled a knife from his pocket, and lunged for the security guard, missing his face by inches, before running out of the shop with stolen toiletries. 
The whole incident was captured by CCTV which proved critical for the police investigation, as retrospective facial recognition technology was used to identify the robber.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=vJZvY0iJIL8%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.south-wales.police.uk

Watch as Omar Karshe pulls out a knife and lunges for a security guard before running out of the Tesco Express store in City Road, Cardiff. 

He was arrested shortly after and while searching his address, officers found the same clothing he was wearing on the day of the robbery.
He went on to plead guilty to robbery and possessing a knife in a public place, and was jailed for three years and nine months at Cardiff Crown Court on June 11.
This is the latest conviction following a new wider approach to shoplifting by police in Cardiff and The Vale.
On March 30, Christopher Storer, of Caernarvon Way, Trowbridge, was jailed for over 40 shoplifting offences committed at shops throughout Cardiff.
Also in March, prolific shoplifter Nathan Cambell, of Dyfrig House, Riverside, was jailed for 32 weeks after being convicted on 19 shoplifting offences. On March 13, the unsuspecting shoplifter walked into Home Bargains on Cowbridge Road when an officer was already inside, watching CCTV footage of Cambell committing recent offences. He ran out of the shop but was chased by the officer and arrested.
Detective Constable James Balchin, said: “We have been meeting with retailers and businesses to improve information and intelligence sharing as well as arresting prolific offenders and those who profit from retail theft.
“The operation was put in place as a response to rising retail theft and I hope convictions such as this one are helping to improve trust and confidence within our business communities.”