Chelmsford: Shoplifter banned from shops for two years

A shoplifter has been banned from certain shops in Chelmsford for two years by our officers as they continue their work to protect our local businesses.

Alice Archer, 30, of Broomhall Road, Chelmsford repeatedly targeted Co-op and John Lewis stores in November last year stealing items worth hundreds of pounds.

She was arrested in January this year following an investigation by the Chelmsford Town Centre Team and charged.

In January she admitted charges of theft and was given a five month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Now, on 19 February, our officers successfully obtained a Criminal Behaviour Order banning her from John Lewis and Co-op stores in the city of Chelmsford for the next two years.

Sergeant Graham Thomas, from the Chelmsford Town Centre Team, said:

“We cannot tolerate people stealing from our hardworking local businesses.

“It does not matter if you are a big chain or a local independent, shoplifting has a big impact and we’re committed to tackling it.

“Last year across Essex we made nearly 1,400 arrests for shoplifting, securing more than 2,500 charges, and solving more than 100 more offences than the year before.

“We take dealing with this sort of crime very seriously and have been prolific and successfully obtaining CBOs.

“Where they are breached, we will take robust enforcement action”.

Our work to tackle shoplifting in Essex was recently highlighted on the BBC News.

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