A SHOPLIFTING purge by Essex Police resulted in the arrest of 30 people.

The operation saw 20 people charged with shop theft offences, with three also being charged with related assaults. 

Five people were arrested in each of the Basildon, Chelmsford and Southend districts, four in Thurrock, three in Epping Forest and Rochford, two in Colchester and one in each of the Braintree, Tendring and Uttlesford districts between Monday, 5 and Sunday, 11 February. 

Since 1 January, officers from Essex Police have made a total of 188 arrests for shop theft.

One man has already been jailed for breaching a two-year criminal behaviour order imposed last October for shop thefts. 

On Friday 9 February, Colin Bishop, 58, of Arundel Road, Wickford, was jailed for a total of 32 weeks and ordered to pay £239 compensation to New Look after admitting the theft of six jackets from the firm's Wickford store on 26 January. He also admitted breaching the criminal behaviour order.

A 16-week suspended jail sentence imposed on 20 November 2023 for further shop thefts was activated by Southend magistrates and Bishop was also sentenced to a further 16-week jail term for the latest theft, to run consecutively, and another 16 weeks for the CBO breach, to run concurrently.

Specialist business crime officers will work with officers locally to apply to the courts for a criminal behaviour order against another man.

PC Mike Lee, of our Business Crime Team, says: "We take all reports of shop theft seriously. It's not a victimless crime.

"Some offenders can be violent and cause injury and distress to retail workers and customers, which is completely unacceptable.

"Through our Open for business, closed for crime campaign we encourage retail staff who are victims of violence and abuse to report it to us. Staff should feel safe when they are at work and customers should feel safe when they are shopping. 

"You can report online at www.essex.police.uk/ro or by ringing our non-emergency number 101. If you want to report in confidence, contact Crimestoppers. Of course, if it's a crime in progress, always ring 999."

PC Lee added: "Criminal behaviour orders are a very important tool in preventing not only thefts but also violence, anti-social behaviour and harassment across the retail sector. 

"If they are ignored, the offender can be arrested and put back before the courts for a tougher sentence.

"Three people tested positive in custody last week for cocaine, crack cocaine or heroin and will be required to attend an assessment, with one of the three drugs treatment services we work with."

Three people were cautioned for shop theft and two issued with community resolutions. Cases involving three others are still being investigated and two arrests resulted in no further action.