A prolific shoplifter has been jailed after he was linked with a £4,000 crime spree, targeting stores such as Waitrose, Boots, John Lewis and Tesco.
Daniel Rogers, 34, stole from a range of retailers in Horsham and Crawley from February to May this year.
But, as part of a police operation known as Op Apprentice, he was identified as a prolific shoplifter and was arrested.
At Lewes Crown Court on Thursday 6 August, Judge Stephen Mooney jailed Rogers, of Trinity Fields, Lower Beeding, for six months after the serial thief admitted 17 offences of stealing from shops.
The court also imposed a “criminal behaviour order” to restrict his access to shops and to try to prevent him from re-offending when he is released.
The terms include
- not to enter any Boots, TK Maxx, John Lewis or Waitrose store in West Sussex
- not to remain on retail premises if asked to leave
- to leave a shop or store when asked to do so
- not to use language that causes a person harassment, alarm or distress
- not to behave in a way that puts a person in fear of being caused immediate unlawful violence
- to wear a location monitoring tag to trace his movements
The order will remain in place for four years.
After the case, Sergeant David Broome said: “Rogers admitted 17 offences in court and was identified as a priority target for his impact on retailers.
“We take reports of shop theft seriously. Shoplifting and the associated abuse should not simply be seen as ‘part of the job’ for retail workers.
“That is why and we are targeting the most prolific offenders. Rogers is now serving a prison sentence.”
