Six people have been arrested during a police crackdown on shoplifting in Taunton. The proactive operation in the town centre was undertaken between November and the new year, and has so far seen two of the six people sentenced to weeks in jail.
Police say the recent operation is in response to community concerns in the town and Taunton’s Neighbourhood Policing Team will continue these targeted patrols into the new year. Superintendent Lisa Simpson said: “The impact of theft and threatening behaviour on retailers – especially small businesses – cannot be underestimated.
“Not only does it have a knock-on effect on the running of a business, which may have economic implications for the wider community, but it can cause harassment, alarm and distress to business owners and staff.”
Police officers arrested six people Avon and Somerset Police described as “prolific offenders”, including two who have already been sentenced. A 23-year-old woman, of no fixed abode, was charged with 25 counts of shop theft at stores in Taunton, including Boots, Aldi, Marks and Spencer, Tesco Express, Co-op, Asda, Superdrug and Sainsbury’s, Hankridge Farm Retail Park.
These thefts took place in November and December last year. She was sentenced to 16-weeks in prison at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on December 23, following multiple breached of her bail conditions.
A 30-year-old man, also of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 16-weeks in prison on December 31 for actively committing theft in breach of his bail conditions. He had been arrested and charged with five counts of shop theft at Sainsbury’s, Hankridge Farm Retail Park and one count of shop theft at Asda, Taunton. He was also charged with one count of shop theft at Tesco Express, Priorswood.
Other arrests during the operation include:
- A 51-year-old woman, of no fixed abode, was arrested and charged with four counts of shop theft at Sainsbury’s, Hankridge Farm Retail Park. She appeared in court on 26 November and has been remanded in custody until 10 January. On this date, she will appear at Taunton Crown Court for sentencing.
- A 42-year-old woman, of Triscombe Road, Taunton, was arrested and charged for a dwelling burglary. She has been remanded in custody for a pre-trial plea hearing at Taunton Crown Court on 10 January.
- A 46-year-old woman, of no fixed abode, was wanted for breach of a suspended sentence by Taunton Crown Court. Patrol officers in the town centre identified and arrested her on 14 December.
- A 32-year-old woman, of no fixed abode, was wanted on recall to prison. She was also arrested in Taunton town centre on 14 December.
Superintendent Lisa Simpson continued: “We are continuing to review how we work in partnership with the Taunton Business Improvement District and security teams to provide stores with the support they need. This includes providing advice on reporting crime and anti-social behaviour, and making the process as quick and easy as possible using QR codes.
“In the meantime, our Volume Offenders Team and neighbourhood officers in Taunton are working hard to gather evidence and compile arrest packages for well-known offenders whose actions are causing harm. Retail crime, including shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, is still believed to be under-reported nationally. We want to hear about these incidents so we can gather valuable intelligence and target police resources accordingly.”
Police are also working to identify key areas of offending, enabling security measures to be strengthened in hotspot stores, with resources focused on “volume offenders” – repeat offenders with more than three outstanding crime repots.