A Gosport woman has been sentenced to 19 weeks in prison after being found guilty of multiple shoplifting offences across the town. Sarah Ellen Thorne, 56, of Foster Road, appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 29th November.
Thorne was convicted of stealing alcohol from Waitrose on Stoke Road on Wednesday 29th October and Sunday 2nd November, as well as taking food items from One Stop on Village Road on Sunday 23rd November.
The court handed her a one-week prison sentence for each offence, to run consecutively. Additionally, a 16-week suspended sentence from Wednesday 17th September was activated. This earlier sentence related to three separate shoplifting incidents at Waitrose on Stoke Road during July and August.
Sergeant Rhys McCarthy from the Neighbourhood Police Team commented: “We take all reports of shoplifting extremely seriously, and I hope this result reassures the local community that we will do all we can to put offenders before the courts.
“We want to stop this type of behaviour and encourage businesses affected to please keep reporting crimes to us so we can relentlessly pursue those responsible.”
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Police have issued guidance for retailers to protect against shoplifting:
- Ensure staff can access appropriate security equipment, including panic alarms
- Maintain CCTV cameras in good working order with optimal coverage positioning and annual servicing
- Train staff to report suspicious activity to managers or police, recording date, time and person descriptions
Shop owners and staff are urged to continue reporting shoplifting incidents by calling 101 or reporting online via the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website. For crimes in progress, dial 999.
