Habitual Isle of Wight shoplifter handed Criminal Behaviour Order

An habitual Isle of Wight shoplifter has been handed a three year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) by Magistrates.

Warren Russell, aged 40 and of no fixed abode, has convictions for numerous theft and shoplifting incidents which have persistently had a negative impact on the local community and businesses on the Island.

On Thursday 14 March, Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court was told that this behaviour was affecting the quality of life of residents, in addition to the harassment, alarm and distress being caused to shop workers. Russell has been banned from a number of stores on the Shop Watch scheme, but continues to offend.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary applied for a CBO, and Magistrates were told this was necessary and proportionate to disrupt Russell’s continued disregard for the law.

The CBO was granted for three years, prohibiting Russell from doing the following:

• Acting in an anti-social manner, that is to say acting in a manner that causes distress or is likely to cause alarm or distress to any person not of the same household as him.
• Entering any premises, which has served a banning notice on him.
• Placing any item for sale in anything other than a shopping basket or trolley prior to payment being made at retail premises on the Isle of Wight.
• Concealing any item for sale on his person at any retail premises on the Isle of Wight
• Concealing his face or head when entering any retail premises on the Isle of Wight.

Chief Inspector Alex Charge said: “Tackling business and retail crime is a priority for us on the Isle of Wight. Local policing teams put in a lot of work to support businesses, disrupt habitual offenders, bring them before the courts and also work with support services for those whose offending cycle is driven by other factors such as drug and alcohol dependency.

“Warren Russell persistently steals and causes ongoing distress to local people and shop workers. This is absolutely not acceptable, and in addition to prosecuting him we have explored other options to tackle his pattern of offending, including now securing this CBO. If he breaches any of the prohibitions, he will risk going back to prison.

“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. Repeat offences in particular can create an environment of fear for many retail workers. As a result they may feel unsafe in their own workplace. In addition, store owners losing products to thieves means that they not only lose the profit margin, but the entire value of the product. This in turn will impact prices for consumers.

“We want to stop this type of behaviour, and encourage businesses affected to please keep reporting crimes to us so we can relentlessly pursue those responsible.”