A Winchester man has pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol from city centre shops during a six-week crime spree. Maxwell Oliver Lane-Wheeler, 27, admitted eight theft charges at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on 29 October.
Lane-Wheeler, from City Road, Winchester, targeted Tesco Express and Marks & Spencer stores on Winchester High Street between 17 September and 27 October.
Winchester City’s Neighbourhood Policing Team investigated the reported thefts and arrested Lane-Wheeler in the city on 28 October. He appeared before magistrates the following day, where he entered guilty pleas to all eight counts of shop theft.
The 27-year-old is scheduled to be sentenced at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on 19 November.
Sergeant Ryan Keen described how Lane-Wheeler repeatedly entered the shops, took bottles of alcohol from shelves and walked out without attempting to pay.
“This kind of behaviour is not acceptable and our teams have been working hard to repeat offenders in the city – it is a priority for us,” said Sgt Keen.
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He emphasised that such crimes affect local businesses and staff members should not have to face shoplifters or abuse.
Police have vowed to pursue shoplifting reports, identifying and arresting offenders whilst utilising tactics including Criminal Behaviour Orders to prevent reoffending and address persistent criminals.
