A shoplifter has been jailed after he was tracked down by police.
Andrew Merritt was wanted in connection with a string of thefts from across Retford and Worksop supermarkets between 19 January and 20 February.
The 36-year-old was spotted by CCTV operators at Bassetlaw District Council on Saturday (28 February) in Retford town centre.
Once local officers were alerted to his whereabouts, they were quick to arrive on the scene and found the shoplifter attempting to hide in a bush next to Retford Fire Station.
He was then swiftly apprehended and charged with nine counts of shoplifting.
B&M and Boots in Retford both fell victim to his thieving as he made off with a vacuum cleaner, kettle and skincare.
Bottles of spirits, packs of steaks and washing pods were also swiped from shelves at Tesco in Gateford Road and Morrisons in Kilton Road in Worksop.
He also stole from two shops in Derbyshire.
Merritt, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday (2 March) and was jailed for eight months.
PC Eoin Wilson, of the Bassetlaw neighbourhood policing team, said:
“Shoplifting offences have a significant impact on local businesses and won’t be tolerated in Bassetlaw.
“We know that a disproportionate number of shop thefts in our town centres come from a relatively small group of people, and we are relentlessly targeting them with some very positive results.
“I hope this sentence sends out a clear message to others who think they can take what they want from local businesses: we will track you down and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.
“I’d also like to thank the CCTV operatives at Bassetlaw District Council for helping us locate Merritt and see that justice is served.”
Councillor Darrell Pulk, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods at Bassetlaw District Council said:
“Our CCTV operators do a fantastic job and helping the Police to identify, locate and apprehend a wanted criminal is just one of the many ways they support our town centres, our partners and the public.
“We’ll continue to work with Nottinghamshire Police so that criminals can be brought to justice, we are able to reduce crime, and our town centres and high streets continue to be a safe and welcoming place.”
