Crackdown on opportunist crime in north Kent

Neighbourhood officers and investigators in north Kent have continued making arrests in the fight to combat opportunist criminals.

On Tuesday 27 August 2024, Kent Police received a report that cash had been stolen from a church in Dartford while a victim was distracted.

Local constables completed enquiries into the incident including the review of CCTV in the area. A man was then arrested within 24 hours and taken into custody.

The 65-year-old was later conditionally bailed while further enquiries are completed into the incident.

Further suspect detained

Constables from the Gravesham Neighbourhood Task Force were on patrol on Wednesday 28 August when they arrested a man in connection with the reported theft of a wallet from a car.

The property was allegedly stolen on 21 July in Clifton Marine Parade, and the victim was later notified that one of his bank cards had been used to make a fraudulent purchase of alcohol and cigarettes in a local shop.

Investigators subsequently charged Charlie Belsham, of High Street, Gravesend, with fraud and failing to provide a sample for a drug test whilst in custody. The 42-year-old was remanded to appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court on the following day.

Cigarettes stolen 

In further enforcement, a suspect was detained on Thursday 29 August by officers investigating two reported burglaries at a Northfleet Co-op.

In both incidents, tobacco was allegedly stolen from behind a counter on Tuesday 25 June and Tuesday 22 August.

Patrick Downey, 37, of Greenhill Road, Northfleet, was later charged with two counts of burglary and failing to provide a sample for a drug test whilst in custody. He has been remanded to a hearing at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Friday 30 August.

District Commander, Chief Inspector Will Lay, said: ‘I would like to reassure residents and business owners that my officers work tirelessly to respond to reports of crime and will seek to bring offenders to justice at the earliest opportunity.
'Those who choose to offend should be aware that our work continues after an incident and, where a suspect is later identified, it is only a matter of time before they are arrested by a local constable, response officer or an investigator. Where a person is charged, our officers will seek to bring them before a court as soon as possible to answer for their actions.’