Kent Police received a report that people had been fraudulently swapping high-value trainers into boxes for cheaper footwear and paying for them through the self-service tills. It was reported that the fraud had occurred at a store in Ashford’s designer outlet on three different occasions, on 3, 24 and 31 August 2024.
As part of an investigation by local Ashford officers, over 400 boxes of shoes were seized following a search at a property in Essex, 45 boxes of trainers were identified as originating from the Ashford business.
On Monday 2 September charges of theft and fraud were authorised against:
Catalina Petre, 20, of Holmes Street, Derby.
Camelia Panescu, 53, of Broadway, Grays (Essex).
Francisc Dumitru, 28, of Holmes Street, Derby.
Viorel Panescu, 28 of Broadway, Grays (Essex).
They were all remanded to appear at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Monday 2 September.
