Man jailed for Southampton shoplifting offences

A 36-year-old man has been jailed for 17 shopliftings in Southampton city centre.

Samuel Griffiths, of no fixed abode, appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Tuesday 27 February) where he was sentenced to four months and two weeks in prison.

Griffiths was arrested by a patrolling officer and later charged in connection with 17 incidents that took place between January 26^th and February 20^th in which stock worth £1091 was taken from the Commercial Road, High Street and Archers Road Co-op stores.

The court heard how a review of CCTV footage showed Griffiths entering the stores on each occasion and leaving with items including wine, beer and Red Bull without paying for them.

Police Sergeant Carl Peverill, who leads Southampton’s city centre unit, said: “We know the impact that this type of repeat offending has on local businesses and shop staff, and we have a zero tolerance towards it – the city centre unit is committed to targeting those who repeatedly commit crime within Southampton’s stores.

“We are pleased with the prison sentence given and hope that it sends out a message to criminals who continue to steal in Southampton, making the lives of shop staff difficult. If you continue to shoplift in the city then you will be dealt with robustly and we will do everything we can to put those causing harm to our communities before the courts."

"Please keep reporting incidents to us via 101 or online, if we don’t know about it we can’t help. You can also come and speak to patrolling officers in the city any time.”