The ongoing campaign to protect Maidstone retailers from crime has continued with a prison sentence for a burglar and thief.
On 28 February 2023, a man who went to a shopping centre in Romney Place and hid inside the premises while it was being closed took a cash register from one of the businesses located at the property and threw it down an internal stairwell. Stealing a quantity cash from inside, he then fled the scene.
Fingerprints
The police were alerted and the man’s fingerprints were recovered following forensic examination of the cash register.
On Thursday 1 June, the same man went to a shop in Fremlin Walk and stole some headphones by dropping them into a bag.
Officers from the town centre policing team were alerted by security guards and arrested him as he walked up Lower Stone Street. The stolen headphones were also recovered.
Jailed
The 34-year-old man from Maidstone was later charged with counts of burglary and theft, and pleaded guilty at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Friday 2 June. He was immediately sentenced to 174 days’ imprisonment and also required to pay compensation totalling £489.
Police Sergeant Elisha Robinson, of Maidstone’s Victim Based Crime Team, said: ‘Our investigators work closely with town centre officers, security teams and the council community protection team to safeguard shoppers and local businesses.
‘Where we suspect a criminal has committed an offence, they will be tracked down and brought to justice. In this case, a prolific thief entered an early plea due to overwhelming evidence proving his guilt, and he is now safely behind bars.’