Rotherham shoplifters named and shamed

There were 161 reported incidents in April, with food, alcohol and cosmetics were among the favourite targets for thieves, according to statistics released by South Yorkshire Police.

Chief Insp Richard Butterworth has vowed to tackle the issue and insisted that shoplifting “will not be tolerated” after his officers successfully dealt with 78 of the shoplifting offences, charging 42 people in the process.

He said: “There have been a large number of offences across the borough throughout April and the good work of officers has enabled us to process many of these individuals and deal with them appropriately.

“We would like to send out a clear warning that if you were involved in one of the 83 shoplifting offences not processed to date or are thinking of going shoplifting throughout May, there is a very good chance that your name could appear in our future results for all to see.”

The following were successfully arrested an prosecuted for shoplifting offences committed during April:

• Lee Woolley (24), of Henry Court, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to two offences of shoplifting toiletries and cosmetics from Superdrug and is currently remanded in custody.
• Andrei Stan (25), of Eastwood, pleaded guilty to the theft of £3,710 worth of food and alcohol from Morrisons at Bramley and was sentenced to six months imprisonment.
• Ashley Moore (26), of Monks Close, Wingfield, pleaded guilty to the theft of alcohol at the Co-operative supermaket, Maltby, and received a 20-week suspended prison sentence and a 120 hours unpaid work order.
• Christopher Peace (41), of no fixed address, received four months imprisonment for theft of alcohol at Asda.
• Darren Smith (37), of Creswick Road, Dalton, received a 12 week suspended prison sentence for the theft of £200 worth of electrical items from Cash Convertors.
• Grenville Cotterill (42), of Wharf Road, Kilnhurst, was found guilty of shoplifting on April 13 and received a community order for theft of cosmetics at Morrisons, Parkgate.
• Helen Stubbs (30), of Norfolk Court, Rotherham, and Raymond Caparini (45), of no fixed abode, received prison sentences of 14 and 21 days respectively, for theft of cosmetics from Poundland.
• Joseph Round (32), of Duke Avenue, Maltby, Rotherham received 28 weeks imprisonment for theft of alcohol from the Co-operative supermarket at Maltby.
• Leslie Emery (35), of no fixed address, received a 14 week prison sentence for theft of alcohol from B&M Bargains.
• Mark Lawton (40), of no fixed address, received a 28 day prison sentence for theft of baby accessories worth £170 from Mothercare.
• Stefan Bazo (26), of Hatherley Road, Eastwood, received a community order and curfew for the theft of £50 of cosmetics from Asda.
• Steven Bower (30), of Allan Street, Clifton, received 4 weeks imprisonment for the theft of food from Heron Foods and alcohol from Marks and Spencer.

Police also issued two cautions, 13 fixed penalty notices of £80, and seven restorative justice referrals in relation to shoplifting offences in April.

Mr Butterworth said: “The monthly results show that we will not tolerate shoplifting in Rotherham.

“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime and many people use shoplifting to fund their lifestyles.

“We would encourage people to think twice before buying items that they believe to be stolen.

“By receiving stolen goods you could be in as much trouble as those involved in shoplifting and the buying of these stolen items is encouraging shoplifters to continue with their life of crime.”

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