Colchester: Shoplifter banned from two city stores

A Colchester shoplifter has been banned from entering the two city stores he targeted 17 times.

Over a period of nine months, Aaron Talbot, 47, stole more than £1,700 of meat, detergents and coffee from the two shops. On one occasion, he assaulted a member of staff who tried to stop him, city magistrates heard on 13 November 2024.

After being arrested on 17 August 2024 on suspicion of shoplifting at the Co-op store in Five Fields Court, Greenstead, Talbot turned his attention to the nearby Hawthorn Avenue shop, the court was told. Talbot was arrested for a second time by an officer from Colchester Local Policing Team and later charged a total of 17 shop thefts.

Sentencing Talbot, of Conifer Close, magistrates told him he was not allowed to enter the two Co-op stores for the next 12 months.

Talbot had previously admitted 12 thefts from the Five Fields Court store between 18 November 2023 and 8 August 2024, as well as a further five thefts from the shop in Hawthorn Avenue between 11 & 22 August 2024.

He had also pleaded guilty to assault by beating during his last theft on 22 August.

Sergeant Matt Harmer, of Colchester Local Policing Team, says: 

“We know shoplifting and abuse of retail staff can go unreported but we take all reports seriously, as this case shows.
“But, despite being arrested for several shoplifting offences, Talbot went on to repeat his crimes.
“However, he was recognised by one of our officers from CCTV footage from the second store so he was quickly arrested a second time and charged for all 17 shop thefts and for assaulting a member of retail staff.
“Our officers are dedicated to helping to keep our city safe from shoplifters like Talbot but we can’t do it without help.
“Our Business Crime Team runs the Open For Business, Closed For Crime initiative. They encourage retailers to report shop theft, abuse and anti-social behaviour to us and advise them on how to provide us with good quality CCTV images and witness statements.
“Together, this enables strong cases to be presented at court, leaving offenders no choice but to admit their crimes and face justice.”

Magistrates also sentenced Talbot to a total of 40 weeks in jail – two weeks, consecutive, for each count of shop theft and a further six weeks, consecutive, for the assault. The jail term was suspended for a year.

He was ordered to attend a drug rehabilitation course for six months, to undertake 30 days of rehabilitation activity and to pay £300 compensation to the Co-op. and another £100 to his assault victim.

Our Business Crime Team works with store chains and independent retailers to provide specialised crime prevention and staff safety advice.

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