A prolific and brazen shoplifter who has plagued the stores of South Tyneside has been jailed for almost a year – thanks to the efforts of Neighbourhood officers.
Persistent criminal Dillon Lawson, 29, set his sights on several stores across areas such as South Shields, Whitburn, and Boldon Colliery in a spate of offending which saw premises relieved of items including air fresheners, chocolate, and meat.
Quickly following the reports, South Shields Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) followed enquiries and identified Lawson, of Morris Avenue, South Shields, as the suspect in the thefts.
Lawson was arrested on Tuesday (April 29) and soon after he was charged with 18 offences of shoplifting and was kept for court.
Yesterday (Wednesday), he appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court where he was sentenced to 48 weeks’ imprisonment.
Following the sentencing hearing, Sergeant Thomas Strawbridge of South Shields Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), said: “This is a great result, not only for our team here but for the wider communities across South Tyneside and the businesses which have been affected by Lawson’s selfish offending.
“Working as a neighbourhood team, we identified and subsequently arrested Lawson – who tried to make off out the address not realising we were at the back gate waiting for him.
“It’s important not to undervalue to work of neighbourhood policing. We take ownership, have pride and belief, and understand the complexities of the work we are doing.”
Sgt Strawbridge added: “We’re here to support across all the needs of our diverse communities, and that includes being that visible reassurance where we’re needed, but also pursuing offenders we know are causing issues in our area.
“Now, thanks to our local policing knowledge, an individual is in prison rather than causing stress an upset to those working in our local stores.
“As always, please remember that he public are our eyes and ears in the community – please know that your intelligence is vital, and we will continue to take positive action to address any concerns reported to us.”
Anyone with information on suspected shoplifting incidents can send Northumbria Police a direct message on social media or use the live chat function and report forms on the Force website.
For those unable to contact police via those ways, call 101.
If a crime is always taking place, ring 999.
About The Reporter
