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Medway and Dartford police have intensified their efforts to combat retail theft, resulting in numerous arrests and charges in a single day.
On Friday, January 31, officers in Chatham High Street responded to a report of stolen steaks from a supermarket. Following a review of CCTV footage, two individuals were stopped shortly after in nearby Church Street, with meat products also recovered. The two individuals, a 37-year-old woman and a man both from Chatham, were subsequently charged with two counts of theft and remanded in custody pending their appearance at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, February 1.
In a separate incident, a man was arrested after the theft of multiple jars of coffee from a Dartford store. The 37-year-old from Dartford, was charged with theft and breaching a criminal behaviour order prohibiting him from the premises. He pleaded guilty at his initial court hearing on Saturday, February 1, and was immediately sentenced to four weeks in jail.
Further investigations into two other thefts led to the arrest of another suspect on Friday, January 31. The inquiries related to alleged thefts of food from a Rochester supermarket on Friday, January 3, and a Gillingham charity shop on Sunday, January 9. A 46-year-old man from Rochester, was charged with two counts of theft and remanded in custody to appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday, February 3.
Also on Friday, January 31, officers were dispatched to a Gillingham store following a report of an assault. A man who had been asked to leave the store allegedly spat in the face of a staff member. The 47-year-old, from Gillingham, was arrested at his home and charged with assault. He pleaded guilty at his first court appearance on Saturday, February 1, and was sentenced to one hundred hours of unpaid work, ordered to compensate the victim, and pay court costs.
Chief Inspector Garry Cook said:
‘Theft from shops is not a victimless crime and causes price rises for law abiding members of the public whilst distressing employees at the businesses that are targeted.
‘My position on shoplifting is clear. Where there is evidence to arrest a suspect we will track them down and bring them to justice. Where appropriate, those detained will be held in custody until they can answer for their actions at the first available court hearing.’
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