A man and a woman have been charged following a series of shoplifting incidents in the region, some of which involved violence against staff and police officers. The pair were apprehended after reports of abusive behaviour at two separate businesses, including an incident where an employee was knocked to the ground.
The first incident occurred on Monday, February 10th, at a shop on Preston Street, Faversham, where several drinks were allegedly stolen and a person was pushed into shelving, causing them to fall. Two days later, on Wednesday, February 12th, items valued at approximately £165 were reported stolen from a service station on St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells. In this incident, staff members were allegedly subjected to verbal abuse and threats.
The suspects were taken into custody later that day. During the arrest, one of the individuals is alleged to have spat at and kicked officers.
One suspect, a 31-year-old man from Southborough, was charged with two counts of theft, assault against staff and emergency workers, and criminal damage. The other suspect, a 35-year-old woman with no fixed address, was charged with the same two thefts. She also faces an additional five charges of shoplifting in Tunbridge Wells since the start of the year.
They were both remanded in custody and appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 13th.