A persistent shop thief who helped himself to vacuum cleaners, a suitcase, laundry products, toiletries and toilet rolls after targeting three stores in Kirkby-in-Ashfield has been locked up.
Keelan Lewis was clearly seen on CCTV cameras as he picked up two Tower vacuum cleaners, after entering Boyes in Lowmoor Road, and left the store without making payment on 22 August.
The next day the 23-year-old entered the B&M, in Station Street, where he selected a pink suitcase and three Lynx gift sets and left without paying.
Lewis, of Spruce Gardens, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, had previously stolen toilet rolls from the same store just three days earlier, and also stole laundry products from Morrisons, in the Ashfield Precinct, on 13 August.
Inquiries were carried out by neighbourhood officers which resulted in Lewis being arrested and charged.
Lewis pleaded guilty to four counts of shop theft and appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Monday (14 September).
He was jailed for 360 days and must pay £327 compensation.
Tackling and reducing shop theft remains a priority for the Kirkby-in-Ashfield Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Local officers have been working with retailers to ensure they get the evidence they need against persistent offenders.
Their ongoing work has included applying to the courts for criminal behaviour orders against prolific shop thieves to stop their harmful behaviour, as well as positive requirements to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour.
PCSO Keegan Killen, of the Ashfield Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We take reports of shop theft very seriously and continue to work closely with businesses to identify and arrest prolific offenders.
“Our ongoing work to tackle this issue also involves problem-solving, target hardening and intelligence sharing.
“Lewis’ repeated offending had caused ongoing harm to local businesses and the public.
“We remain committed to protecting businesses and ensuring high harm offenders, like him, who cause so much distress are brought before the courts at the earliest opportunity and held accountable.”
