Champagne and spirits worth hundreds of pounds have been seized by officers who stopped a car linked to shoplifters targeting stores in Maidstone and Edenbridge.
Three women from Greater London were arrested following multiple reports of shop thefts from supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Waitrose, and Home Bargains.
Proactive patrols from the Maidstone Community Safety Unit stopped a suspicious vehicle in Jeffrey Street, Maidstone, at around 3pm on Tuesday 20 February 2024. A search led to the seizure of stolen items, including alcohol, groceries, and homeware. Officers also recovered a black magnetic security tag remover.
The suspects, from areas of Croydon and Purley, were detained in connection with handling stolen goods and theft offences and taken into custody. They have all since been bailed with conditions, pending further enquiries.
Investigating officer, PC Ryan Shardlow-Wrest from the West Division Victim-Based Crime Team, said:
‘Efforts are being increased to tackle out-of-county thieves, who travel into Kent to steal from supermarkets and other retailers.
‘Visiting criminals detrimentally impact the local community, who see the cost of everyday items rise, as businesses strive to re-coup losses.
‘We use technology such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), and work with our partners, including British Transport Police to identify and disrupt those who travel into our towns, with the sole intention of committing crime. Our message is simple, keep away or you will be arrested.’