A man from Sittingbourne has been charged following an investigation into a series of thefts targeting retail locations across parts of North and East Kent. A total of 23 charges have been brought against the individual suspected of thefts from businesses in the areas of Canterbury, Thanet, and Swale. The charges include 21 counts of theft and two driving offences.
Between August 5 and September 26, 2025, police received multiple reports of goods being stolen from grocery and convenience stores in areas including Ramsgate and Margate. It is alleged that food, alcohol, and household items valued at over £2,000 were taken from these businesses. During the same timeframe, there were reports of fuel thefts from petrol stations in locations such as Canterbury, Herne Bay, Ramsgate, Margate, and Sittingbourne. In these incidents, a driver allegedly drove away from the forecourt without paying. The stolen fuel was valued at approximately £260.
Inquiries into the reports led to an arrest being made in the Richmond Road area of Ramsgate on the evening of Thursday, October 2 and the following day, the individual, a 60-year-old man from Sittingbourne, was formally charged. He subsequently appeared before Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, October 4, and is scheduled to appear before Thanet Magistrates’ Court on November 17.