Shoplifter Paul McMullen Jailed After Raiding Multiple Towns
Paul McMullen, 41, has been locked up for ripping off shops across multiple towns in south-east England. Between August 2019 and June 2021, the prolific thief targeted stores in Rochester, Sittingbourne, Bexleyheath, Gravesend, Chelmsford, Brentwood, and Ilford.
Hefty Hauls and Bold Daytime Raids
McMullen used tools to pry open cash tills, pinching more than £1,500 in total. His brazen daylight raids caught the attention of police. On 16 June 2021, CCTV caught him red-handed during a theft at a large Ilford store.
Identified and Sentenced
Following his arrest, further investigations tied McMullen to six more thefts and six related burglaries. He pleaded guilty to seven theft charges. The rest were left on file.
At Maidstone Crown Court on 7 December 2021, McMullen from Fencepiece Road, Ilford, was sentenced to 18 months behind bars.
Police Comment
“McMullen was brazen in his offending, striking mostly during the day,” said PC Harry Groves of the Chief Constables Crime Squad. “He targeted shops where he could nab a large sum of money. Stealing from big businesses is not a victimless crime, and his jail time is justified.”
