Carlene Ripley targeted a Tesco store on Bridge Road in Sheerness several times, stealing items such as bottles of spirits and a vacuum cleaner. Ripley fled with the stolen items on April 2nd and 4th, 2022, by opening a fire escape or quickly making her way through an alarmed exit.
Officers recognised her as the suspect after receiving CCTV images from the Swale Victim Based Crime Team. On Saturday, May 21, the 38-year-old was arrested and charged with two counts of theft.
On Monday, May 23, Ripley was remanded to Medway Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty. She had also violated two previous suspended sentences for shoplifting offences and was sentenced to ten months in prison on the same day.
‘Prolific criminals like Ripley relentlessly target retailers with the sole intention of stealing high-value items to either consume or sell,’ said Inspector Paul Stoner. Shoplifting is never a victimless crime, and it has a significant impact on businesses, which is why we use plain clothes officers as part of our ongoing efforts to prevent and catch thieves who target our communities.
