Two men and a woman in Willenhall charged with shop theft offences following police operation
Two men and a woman were arrested and charged with shop theft offences as part of a police operation in Willenhall targeting anti-social behaviour and retail and street crime.
An operation took place in Willenhall on Friday which saw neighbourhood officers join up with #SaferStreetsSummer officers and staff at Tesco, located at Armstrong Way.
Anthony Smith, aged 38, from Walsall, was set to appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Monday for a first hearing after being charged with 12 shop theft offences.
Stuart Arnold, aged 38, from Walsall, was charged with three shop theft offences and appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Saturday.
Hannah Bloomfield, aged 32, from Bloxwich, was also charged with three shop theft offences and was also due to appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Saturday.
The arrests were made as part of a #SaferStreetsSummer operation in the town centre where officers carried out patrols and supported local businesses.
#SaferStreetsSummer is part of a national initiative running in town centres and high streets across the UK focusing on anti-social behaviour, retail and street crime.
Sergeant Paul Smith, West Midlands Police neighbourhood policing supervisor, said: “Shop thefts have a great impact on local businesses and we are working hard together to combat this problem.
"We will be carrying out a number of operations over the summer where we target retail crime and anti-social behaviour in Willenhall town centre as part of #SaferStreetsSummer.
“Partnership working with businesses like Tesco is really positive and we are there to support our local businesses and to make the town a safe place for visitors.”
