Shoplifter Caught: £1,500 Haul Lands Him Behind Bars
A notorious shoplifter has been slammed with a two-year prison sentence after swiping around £1,500 worth of goods from supermarkets across east and north Kent.
Benjamin Birch, 37, of Whitstable, made a habit of sneaking out high-value items—like juicy joints of meat, boxes of washing detergent, tubs of chocolates, razor blades, and bottles of gin—hidden in bags or even his walking frame.
Stealing Spree Hits Seven Stores, 20 Thefts
Between 29 July and 14 October 2019, Birch targeted seven supermarkets spanning Birchington, Whitstable, Sandwich, and Faversham. Staff only realised the full scale of his thefts after reviewing CCTV footage. In total, he pulled off 20 separate shoplifting raids.
On one bold heist at a Faversham supermarket, Birch snatched at least 14 beef joints before casually strolling out, despite shop staff attempting to stop him.
Police Praise Staff While Warning Off Other Thieves
“Birch’s constant stealing cost stores hundreds of pounds each,” said Sergeant Lee Thompson of Kent Police. “He often intimidated staff, threatening them with needles if they intervened. His brazen attitude saw him ignore bans and show zero remorse for his actions or their impact on businesses and staff.”
“I thank the store teams for their support. Shoplifting is unacceptable. We’ll keep tracking down offenders like Birch and bringing them to justice.”
Birch admitted to the charges and was handed a 114-week prison sentence at Canterbury Crown Court on 18 November 2019.
