Rebecca Gough A 14-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of shoplifting was found to have more than �1,000 worth of stolen goods in her home. Police arrested the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, after she allegedly stole �70 worth of cosmetics from a Boots store on King Street in Thetford on December 29. Officers then searched her home and found a further �1,000 worth of stolen goods including cosmetics and a watch.
Rebecca Gough
A 14-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of shoplifting was found to have more than �1,000-worth of stolen goods in her home.
Police arrested the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, after she allegedly stole �70 worth of cosmetics from a Boots store on King Street in Thetford on December 29.
Officers then searched her home and found a further �1,000 worth of stolen goods including cosmetics and a watch.
These were linked to earlier thefts from Boots and Superdrug, also on King Street, between November 29 and December 30 when hundreds of pounds worth of cosmetics were stolen from each, and a watch stolen from fashion retailer New Look between December 20 and Christmas Eve.
Thetford Superdrug store manager Richard Hulett said cosmetics were among the most commonly stolen items from his store.
“At the moment the footfall is high so we'll get a high amount of thefts but it's ongoing all the time. The only difference is around Christmas the value probably gets higher.
“Cosmetics are the biggest loss in the store. There are two types of people; you get the petty theft which is carried out by school kids, then there are the drug dealers who take them to sell.
“You have lines like Max Factor and L'Oreal which can sell for �10 to �15 which is not a bad amount of money for a drug dealer.”
Thetford PC Claire Brightman said: “Police and retailers in Thetford are working closely to target, disrupt and prosecute thieves.
“It's a crime which hits both business and law-abiding citizens in their pockets and we will take action against anyone found shoplifting.”
The teenager was bailed pending the outcome of the police investiga-tion.
To contact the Thetford Neighbourhood Policing Team, call 0845 456 4567 or email sntthetford@norfolk.pnn.police.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here