Alleged shoplifters charged after Kent Police identify South East spree

Two alleged shoplifters have been charged after an incident in Strood uncovered a series of thefts.

Kent Police was called at around 12.30pm on Monday 18 May 2026 to reports of two suspected shoplifters being detained at a Tesco on Cuxton Road.

Investigation

Officers attended and arrested two people on suspicion of theft, before launching an investigation alongside the supermarket chain’s in-house crime detection team.

Together they identified a series of alleged shoplifting incidents across the South East. In total, the goods stolen are believed to value more than £4,000.

Dina-maria Manolescu, 19, of Billet Road, Walthamstow, and Costel Musi, 44, of no fixed address, were later charged with six counts of shoplifting.

Court

Appearing at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 19 May, the younger of the two Romanian nationals entered no plea while Mr Musi pleaded not guilty.

They were released on conditional bail and will next appear at the same court on Thursday 6 August.