A STORE manager in Redditch is condemning magistrates for giving shoplifters too lenient sentences and allowing them go back and steal more products.
Robin Doran, general manager of Matalan, on Tunnel Drive, said they have caught one prolific shoplifter more than 20 times since before Christmas. He said the woman is in the shop for as little as 36 seconds but the staff have to call 999 and spend an hour giving statements just to see her back again.
“She comes in and grabs as much as she can and then runs out again. We have caught her so many times in the last few months but she is in and out so quickly we don’t know how many times she has been in a not been caught.
“Thousands of pounds worth of item are stolen from our store and the thieves have been charged several times and the courts continue to give lenient sentences.
“We are now making a formal complaint on the sentences given.”
Magistrates and judges are bound by sentencing guidelines, which for shoplifting range from a discharge to three years in custody.
A spokesman from The Ministry of justice said: “It is up to the judge or magistrates to make a decision on each case on the circumstances of that offence. They adhere to the relevant guidelines and hand sentences on a case by case analysis.”
Insp Darren Webster said: “We have the Integrated Offender Management Programme (IOMP) where we look at people causing persistent harm. In the first instance the IOM aim is to provided the offender with multi agency support to deal with underlying issues which lead to offending such as drink and drugs and so reduce the need to offend.
“If people do not engage with the programme and continue to commit offences the IOM team then seek catch and convict the highest harm causers through the collection of best evidence to present to the court to ultimately get the offender a custodial sentence.”
