Two suspected shoplifters have been charged after an incident in Strood uncovered a series of thefts across the region.
Local police were called at around 12:30pm on Monday 18 May to reports that two suspected shoplifters were being detained at a supermarket on Cuxton Road. Officers attended the scene and arrested two individuals on suspicion of theft, before launching an investigation alongside the supermarket chain’s in-house crime detection team.
Together, investigators identified a series of alleged shoplifting incidents spanning across the South East. In total, the stolen goods are believed to be valued at more than £4,000. A 19-year-old woman from Walthamstow and a 44-year-old man of no fixed address were later charged with six counts of shoplifting.
Appearing at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 19 May, the woman entered no plea, whilst the co-accused pleaded not guilty. Both defendants were released on conditional bail and are scheduled to next appear at the same court on Thursday 6 August.