A man will have his location tracked after being convicted of two shoplifting offences in Hockley because officers were able to identify him using innovative technology.
A clear image of his face was caught on CCTV belonging to a shop in Spa Road which was then reported to police.
Reid, 54, of Dalston Lane, London, E8, was responsible for stealing a total of £160 worth of goods from the shop on two separate occasions.
He was identified when a match was made with Reid’s details, which were legitimately held on the Police National Database.
Additional verification checks were then carried out before Reid was subsequently arrested in Hackney on Monday 19 November. He was quickly charged.
He admitted two counts of theft from a shop when he appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 20 November.
Magistrates handed him a community order, which means his whereabouts will be tracked, for 13 weeks.
He was also ordered to pay compensation to the business owner.
“We know that when shoplifting occurs, it affects our businesses greatly and across the Castle Point and Rochford district, we are determined to tackle it.
We are an innovative police force and where technology is available to us, we will not hesitate to use it to identify offenders and ultimately ensure they are punished for their criminal behaviour.
I want to be really clear – when shoplifting offences happen, I want businesses in Castle Point and Rochford to feel confident in reporting them to us. We will take action, and there will be no doubt that repeat offenders – those who feel they can continue to steal from our businesses – will be targeted.”
Chief Inspector Paul Hogben, Castle Point District Commander, said:
Source: Essex County Police
