A thief who stole more than £20,000 worth of shoes from a lorry at a Gillingham service station has been jailed following a rapid cross-county police pursuit and arrest.
Michael Tremarco, 35, of St Agnes Drive, Canvey Island, was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to theft, driving without insurance, and driving without a valid licence. The sentencing took place at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday, 27 May.
Organised Theft at Medway Services
The incident occurred in the early hours of 11 April 2025 at Medway Services on the M2. A security guard spotted a person loitering near a curtain-sided lorry. Moments later, a man was seen running from the lorry to a second vehicle, which quickly left the scene.
Upon inspection, officers discovered that the side curtain of the parked lorry had been cut open, and the sleeping driver confirmed that multiple boxes of footwear had been stolen.
Cross-County Pursuit Ends in Stratford
Kent Police launched an immediate search and tracked the suspect lorry to Cadogan Terrace in Stratford, East London. Upon stopping the vehicle, the driver quickly moved to the passenger seat, where he was arrested by officers.
Inside the vehicle, police found 23 boxes of stolen shoes with an estimated retail value of £22,800.
Police Praise Alert Security Guard
PC Natalie Newfield, the investigating officer, said:
“This was clearly an organised crime executed swiftly under the cover of darkness. Fortunately, a vigilant security guard alerted Kent Police, allowing officers to track the suspect across county lines and arrest him before he could disappear.
“Let this serve as a warning — those who travel into Kent to commit crime will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice.”
