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A prolific shoplifter is cooling his heels in prison just days after Thanet police disrupted a significant theft operation, seizing a car brimming with an estimated £500 worth of brand new men’s underwear.
The quick action by officers, working in conjunction with store security, led to the swift conviction of the prime suspect.
The drama unfolded on Sunday, June 1, 2025, as plainclothes neighbourhood officers were on patrol in the Westwood area of Thanet, specifically targeting retail crime. Following a tip-off from eagle-eyed store security about a suspicious group, officers observed a man diligently filling a bag with merchandise before making his way to a waiting vehicle.
Their suspicions confirmed, patrols quickly intercepted the man. A search of his car revealed a surprising bounty: over £500 in various styles of men’s underwear, neatly packed in the back. The vehicle also contained black sacks overflowing with other clothing, some still bearing their original tags, suggesting a broader spree.
During the same operation, two women, aged 42 and 46, were also taken into custody on suspicion of shoplifting. Further investigations led to property searches, yielding additional suspected stolen garments.
Lloyd Armstrong, 38, of no fixed address, was charged the next day with shoplifting in connection with the June 1 incident, as well as an earlier theft on May 26. He appeared before Margate Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 3, where he pleaded guilty to the charges. The court also heard that Armstrong had breached a suspended sentence from prior offences. He was subsequently jailed for a total of 18 weeks.
Meanwhile, the two women have been released on bail as police continue their enquiries into the full extent of the shoplifting ring.
Inspector Richard Batten of Thanet Community Safety Unit said:
‘Local officers regularly work to support businesses against the scourge of shoplifting. We take theft seriously and will continue to run operations that disrupt and stop any would-be thieves from stealing.’