A prolific shoplifter was identified and arrested within minutes of a theft from a discount chain store being reported.
Andrew Wimbledon entered B&M on Green Lane in Clifton before taking three bottles of alcohol from the shelves and boldly leaving without paying on September 1.
Officers in the area received a call at 2:22 pm about the theft and located and arrested Wimbledon nearby.
The known offender, who was outstanding for 13 other shoplifting incidents, was tracked down and detained within eight minutes of the theft being reported.
Wimbledon’s one-man crime spree repeatedly targeted supermarkets, shops, and retailers in West Bridgford and Clifton over three weeks between August 7 and September 1.
On August 8, Wimbledon entered Sainsbury’s on Melton Road in West Bridgford and picked up a basket which he filled with meat worth £262 before leaving without paying.
The same day, he also targeted Boots at Riverside Retail Park, where he stole skincare products worth £381.
The following week, he targeted Boots on Central Avenue in West Bridgford and stole perfume and makeup worth £505.
In total, Wimbledon stole items worth £2,254, including bottles of alcohol, laundry products, and cleaning products from B&M, Marks and Spencer, Boots, and Sainsbury’s.
A thorough investigation by Nottinghamshire Police’s Rushcliffe Neighbourhood Policing Team, using CCTV analysis, witness statements, and intelligence from business partners, identified Wimbledon as the thief and he was charged with all 14 offences.
Wimbledon from West Bridgford, admitted 14 counts of theft from a shop when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on September 2.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months. Wimbledon was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation.
Sergeant Che Sands, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Rushcliffe Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Wimbledon has been a repeat nuisance for businesses across West Bridgford and Clifton.
“Retail crime and shoplifting are a priority in Rushcliffe, and we remain committed to protecting businesses and ensuring that offenders are brought before the courts.
“However, we recognise the complexities linked to substance misuse and work closely with support services to ensure that enforcement is paired with opportunities for rehabilitation.
“We hope that a suspended custodial sentence will curtail future offending, provide respite for shop staff, and enable appropriate support.”
