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A prolific shoplifter has been jailed after local officers detained him for stealing thousands of pounds' worth of property from Faversham businesses.
Gareth Owen targeted the town centre stores during a crime spree between 25 July and 11 August 2024.
Large quantities of toiletries, laundry items, cosmetics, meat products and alcohol were stolen by Owen, who placed them in a bag before leaving the premises without attempting to pay. Their total value was almost £2,000.
Staff at Boots the Chemist, Poundland, Morrisons, the Co-op and Sainsbury’s reported the incidents and neighbourhood officers completed investigations, including the examination of CCTV footage.
Owen, formerly of Whitstable, was tracked down and arrested on 12 August. He was later charged with 20 thefts.
At Medway Magistrates’ Court, Owen pleaded guilty to all the charges, along with 11 other thefts he had committed in Faversham between 8 May and 19 July. He was remanded to a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court.
On 28 January 2025, the 43-year-old was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment.
District Chief Inspector Vanessa Foster said:
‘This criminal has been stealing to fund his drug addiction without any consideration for the impact of his actions on the businesses. Employees at our town centre shops work hard to earn a wage and it must be very dispiriting to see these offenders steal thousands of pounds' worth of property.
‘Our neighbourhood officers are determined to bring these persistent thieves to justice and Owen can be certain he will be subject to some close scrutiny when he is eventually released from prison.’