Work to target shoplifters and protect businesses in Folkestone has led to a series of arrests, charges and a jail term for theft offences.
Quick responses from officers from the town’s Beat Team led to several suspects being arrested in recent weeks.
Investigators from Folkestone’s Victim Based Crime Team then brought together evidence to see alleged offenders quickly charged.
An officer on patrol in the town centre on 15 December was alerted that a man had set off alarms as he left a shop. The suspect was chased down and arrested nearby.
Josh Burgess has since been charged with five counts of theft relating to clothing and trainers stolen in Ashford and Folkestone between 18 July and 15 December 2023.
The 22-year-old, of Grove Road, Folkestone, is next due to appear before the town’s Magistrates’ Court on 19 February 2024.
Luke Neale was also arrested on 15 December concerning two offences reported earlier that year.
The 41-year-old was later charged with two counts of theft and two counts of assault, relating to incidents in a store at the Park Farm Industrial Estate on 12 August and Bouverie Place on 3 November.
Items worth a total of more than £3,000 were stolen in the two incidents and members of staff were reportedly threatened and assaulted. Mr Neale, of no fixed address, is next due to appear before Thanet Magistrates’ Court on 3 March 2024.
On 26 December, officers arrested Hayden Yeomans in Dover Road, Folkestone following a report he had stolen items from a supermarket and assaulted a security guard.
The 21-year-old, of Sheldwich Close, Ashford, was later charged with and admitted assault and theft, and was jailed for 28 days at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court the following day.
Detective Inspector James Wyles, of the Folkestone Community Safety Unit, said: ‘Our officers are determined to protect local shops and their staff by identifying repeat offenders and bringing them before the courts.
The cases in recent weeks show the tireless work of police in tracking down suspects and quickly bringing together the evidence needed to charge them.
‘I am pleased to see one shoplifter was jailed less than 24 hours after an offence and I am sure we will be taking more offenders off the streets in the coming year.’
