Brentwood: Shoplifter jailed

An investigation by our officers focussed on tackling crime in Brentwood town centre has seen a man jailed for shoplifting.

Fifty-two year-old Anthony Smith stole items worth a total of more than £2,000 from Holland and Barrett in the High Street on 2 and 6 February.

He was caught on CCTV carrying out both thefts and when that footage was reviewed, he was identified by the investigating officer and enquiries to locate him began.

He was detained by the Brentwood Town Rangers on 25 February until officers arrived to arrest him.

Smith, of North Road Avenue, Brentwood, was charged with two counts of theft from a shop.

He was also charged with failing to comply with a community protection notice (CPN).

He had been made subject of a CPN in September last year which stated he was not allowed to ask residents or approach members of public in Brentwood asking them for money or food.

Officers established, and evidenced through CCTV, that he had breached this on multiple occasions.

He admitted all the offences at Southend Magistrates’ Court on 26 February and was jailed for 28 days.

He was also given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which bans him from entering any Holland and Barrett store in Essex for three years.

It also bans him from entering Brentwood for the purpose of canvassing for money.

Investigating officer PC Tim King, from the Brentwood Community Policing Team, said:

“We cannot tolerate people targeting or carrying out crime against the hardworking businesses – large or small – in our town.

“Anthony Smith stole items worth a significant amount of money.

“We know the impact these types of crimes can have and it’s why we work hard to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

“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 take further enforcement action”.

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