A shoplifter who stole goods worth more than £750 in just over a month has been jailed and banned from certain shops in Plymouth upon his release.
Harleigh Chown, aged 29, of no fixed abode, appeared before Plymouth Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to 11 shoplifting charges. Chown admitted to a spree of offending in which he targeted stores including Co-op and Morrisons Daily, stealing energy drinks, alcohol and confectionery between 3 September and 12 October.
Sentence and order
Chown has been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and made subject of a two-year criminal behaviour order (CBO). The order bans him from entering any store that is part of the Plymouth Against Retail Crime (PARC) group, of which there are more than 900, as well as setting foot in any Co-op or Morrisons Daily stores across Devon and Cornwall. Failure to comply with the CBO would result in a return to jail.
Police response
Local police inspector Paul Laity said: “Chown had no consideration of the impact his behaviour was having on local businesses, their employees or the wider community.
“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. I hope this sends a clear message that shoplifting will not be tolerated and that we are making Plymouth a hostile place for offenders to operate in.
“Our officers continue to work closely with local partners and retailers in a bid to target those causing harm in our communities and put offenders before the courts.”
Laity added: “I’d like to encourage everyone to please keep reporting. Your information is key in helping us to gather evidence to take the appropriate action to protect our local communities.”
Conditions of the order
The full conditions of Chown’s CBO prohibit him from entering any Plymouth Against Retail Crime member store in the Plymouth area, entering any Co-op store in Devon and Cornwall, entering any Morrisons Daily store in Devon and Cornwall, and being in a retail premises if requested to leave by any employee of that premises. He must leave immediately, returning any stock selected prior to the request, before doing so.
