A prolific shoplifter has been sentenced to jail after a series of thefts from Faversham town centre businesses. Gareth Owen targeted multiple stores between July 25th and August 11th, 2024, stealing nearly £2,000 worth of goods, including toiletries, laundry products, cosmetics, meat, and alcohol. He would conceal the items in a bag and leave the stores without paying.
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Staff at Boots the Chemist, Poundland, Morrisons, the Co-op, and Sainsbury’s reported the thefts, prompting an investigation by local officers. CCTV footage was reviewed, leading to Owen’s arrest on August 12th. The Whitstable resident was charged with 20 thefts related to this spree.
Owen admitted to all charges at Medway Magistrates’ Court, as well as 11 other thefts in Faversham committed between May 8th and July 19th.
On 28 January 2025, the 43-year-old was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment.
District Chief Inspector Vanessa Foster said:
‘This criminal has been stealing to fund his drug addiction without any consideration for the impact of his actions on the businesses. Employees at our town centre shops work hard to earn a wage and it must be very dispiriting to see these offenders steal thousands of pounds worth of property.
‘Our neighbourhood officers are determined to bring these persistent thieves to justice and Owen can be certain he will be subject to a some close scrutiny when he is eventually released from prison.’