Shoplifter jailed as chief constable joins officers on patrol

Chief Constable Rachel Bacon and Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen joined Neighbourhood Policing Team officers in Bishop Auckland for more hotspot patrols yesterday. 

You told us you wanted to see more police on the beat and Tindale Retail Park is an area where officers have been consistently working to deter opportunist shoplifters.

Just last week, the team had a ‘stakeout’ for prolific shoplifter Scott Paul Wilson, who kept targeting shops in the retail park throughout August. 

After reviewing the store’s CCTV footage and talking to staff, officers calculated when the 37-year-old was most likely to try again and caught him red-handed attempting to make off with seven bottles of Jack Daniels and chocolate on September 1. 

The team arrested him for theft and charged him with a total of ten offences including theft and making off without payment. 

And at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday (September 3), Wilson, of St Helen Auckland, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay more than £1,800 in compensation. 

Neighbourhood Inspector, Mark Edwards said: “As a team we work really hard to not only catch criminals but also prevent crime and we hope our work in the retail park continues to deter opportunists and increase public confidence of our residents. 

“It was great to have the chief constable and police and crime commissioner join us on a patrol to see the work we are doing.” 

You’ll continue to see extra officers on the streets, protecting your town, tackling crime, and acting as a visible deterrent.