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A police operation which targeted shoplifters in Ashford has led to two suspects being charged and a further two arrested.
On Friday 13 December 2024, local officers attended shopping areas in the town to disrupt any potential thieves. Plain clothes officers were used to find instances of shoplifting in progress or people behaving suspiciously. They then provided the information to uniformed patrols, who stopped anyone identified and intervened.
During the day, more than £2,600 worth of suspected stolen jewellery, festive ornaments and sportswear were found and recovered by police.
At the Ashford Designer Outlet, two 20-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of shoplifting after security staff reported seeing them behave suspiciously. The two men, from Gillingham and Sheerness, were released on bail pending further enquiries.
Two women were also arrested and charged as part of the Kent Police operation. The pair from Hounslow were charged with stealing jewellery worth £2,176 on 13 December, and the theft of clothing and shoes from a shop on the same date.
They were bailed to appear at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on 3 January 2025.