Between Monday 18 March and Thursday 16 May 2024, multiple thefts were reported at Boots the Chemist in the St George’s Shopping Centre, the Co-op in East Milton Road, and Asda along with Lidl, both located in the Imperial Retail Park.
Property stolen included beauty products, meat and alcohol with a total value of more than £900 and at two of the shops, employees alleged they had been assaulted when trying to prevent a theft taking place.
On Thursday 16 May, a man was detained by security staff at Lidl. Officers swiftly arrived on the scene and a suspect was taken into custody.
A man aged 46 of no fixed address, was later charged by investigators from the North Division Victim Based Crime Team, with 10 counts of theft and four assaults by beating. He was remanded in custody to appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 18 May. His next appearance will be at the same court on Friday 30 August.