Over forty individuals were arrested in Kent following an intensive police operation targeting shoplifting.
January saw twelve more charges than last year. This year, people reported 138 shop thefts. Officers charged forty-one people with crimes.
Shoplifting happened often at a Co-op in Lenham. A man allegedly stole groceries repeatedly. He left without paying each time. Lee Hartigan, 44, got arrested and charged. He faces six theft charges. His court date is March 31.
Officers found a strange car in Staplehurst on February 11. They stopped the car in Weld Close. The search revealed stolen items inside. The items may have come from a Lidl in Farleigh Hill.
Police arrested five people in this case. Two teens got community orders. They must apologize to the store and cannot go there for six months. Three men are out on bail while police keep investigating.
Shoplifting hurts the whole community. It impacts business profits negatively, leading to rising prices and potential job losses. Police work hard to stop shoplifters by identifying, finding, and arresting them quickly.
More police in town help catch thieves. Proactive patrols also help in rural areas. These actions decreased the amount of shoplifting.