TWO thieves have been barred from entering a wide range of shops in Basildon and Wickford.

Essex Police's Business Crime Team have protected businesses in Basildon after securing a Criminal Behaviour Order preventing shoplifter Gemma Reed from entering shops in the town centre.

And Daniel Teelan, 46, of Henderson Gardens, Wickford, was also made subject of a Criminal Behaviour Order at Basildon Magistrates' Court.

The order bans him from entering the following shops for two years:

• Co-op, 157-159 Nevendon Road, Wickford SS12 0NY;
• Co-op, 44 High Road, Wickford SS12 9AT;
• Tesco, 155 Southend Road, Wickford SS11 8EE;
• BP Cranfield Park, Cranfield Park Road S12 9FG;
• Deichmann, 56 Eastgate Centre, Basildon SS14 1JJ.

The order was granted after Teelan was convicted of a number of thefts from shops which took place in April.

Reed, 38, of Orchid Place, Basildon, had been convicted of a series of thefts from stores in and around town centre which took place in February this year.

She was also convicted of charges of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and obstructing a constable in the execution of duty.

At Basildon Magistrates' Court she was given a nine week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months.

She was also given a CBO which bans her from entering 14 different shops for two years:

• Spec Savers Opticians,58-60 Town Square, Basildon SS14 1DT.
• Savers ,21 Town Square, Basildon SS14 1BA.
• Cake Box , 15 South Walk, Basildon SS14 1BZ.
• Cost Cutters, 24 Elizabeth Court, Laindon SS15 5AG.
• Boots the Chemist, 25 Town Square ,Basildon SS14 1BA.
• Boots the Chemist , 31 Ballards Walk, Laindon SS15 5HL.
• Good Food Pekinese & Cantonese, Station Gate, Laindon SS15 6UA.
• Asda, 13 Eastgate Centre, Basildon SS14 1JJ.
• Holland & Barrett, 52 Eastgate Centre, Basildon SS14 1JJ.
• Spar, 43 Ballards Walk, Laindon SS15 5HL.
• Lidl Manor Road, Laindon SS15 6PA.
• JD Sports ,Westgate Park, Basildon SS14 1WP.
• B&M 3-5 Town Square, Basildon SS14 DZ.
• Home Bargains, Westgate Park, Basildon SS14 1WP.

PC Alex Plakhtienko, from the Business Crime Team, said: "We support businesses in our communities across Essex and know the impact shoplifting and theft can have on them.

"We have taken action to ensure prolific shoplifters can no longer target and cause harm to businesses.

"We work alongside businesses to help protect them from crime and deal with issues they face.

"It's just another way we're protecting and serving Essex."

Essex Police have also recently launched a new 'Open for Business, Closed for Crime' campaign to tackle violence and abuse against staff as retail re-opens.

PC Plakhtienko added: "We are aware retail staff have been suffering violence and abuse, which is unacceptable at any time but especially during the pandemic when so many of them have been serving us throughout

"Through Open for Business Closed for Crime, we are working with businesses, encouraging them to report incidents to us. And, if you are a retail worker who is assaulted or abused by a customer whilst at work, please also report it.

"It's going to be busy for retail now so it's a good time for us all to give a clear message to potential offenders that assaults on and abuse of public-facing staff will not be tolerated."

You can read more about the force' support for businesses here.