A prolific shoplifter has been sentenced to prison after stealing thousands of pounds worth of goods from various businesses in Faversham.
Gareth Owen, 43, from High Street, Faversham, targeted town centre stores during a crime spree between 25 July and 11 August 2024. Over this period, he stole large quantities of toiletries, laundry items, cosmetics, meat products, and alcohol, which he placed into a bag before leaving the stores without attempting to pay. The total value of the stolen goods was almost £2,000.
Businesses such as Boots the Chemist, Poundland, Morrisons, the Co-op, and Sainsbury’s reported the thefts to Kent Police. Neighbourhood officers conducted investigations, including reviewing CCTV footage, which ultimately led to Owen’s identification. He was arrested on 12 August and later charged with 20 thefts.
At Medway Magistrates’ Court, Owen pleaded guilty to the charges, as well as to 11 additional thefts committed in Faversham between 8 May and 19 July 2024. He was remanded for a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court, where he was sentenced on 28 October 2024 to two years and eight months in prison.
District Chief Inspector Vanessa Foster commented on the case, saying: “This criminal has been stealing to fund his drug addiction, without any regard for the impact on local businesses. The employees in our town centre shops work hard to earn a living, and it must be demoralising for them to see offenders like Owen repeatedly steal from them.
She added, “Our neighbourhood officers are determined to bring these persistent thieves to justice, and Owen can be certain that he will be closely monitored when he is eventually released from prison.
Owen’s conviction highlights the commitment of local officers to tackling crime and protecting Faversham’s businesses from repeat offenders.
