Wolverhampton police teams work to drive down retail crimes after making three arrests in city centre
Police officers have worked to tackle retail crime in Wolverhampton by making a number of arrests of suspected shop thieves.
West Midlands Police officers on patrol in the city centre on Tuesday (August 12) spotted a man suspected of a number of thefts, totalling more than £500, from a store at St John's Retail Park. A man was subsequently arrested.
Earlier on Tuesday, officers also arrested a woman from an address in the city as part of an investigation into a theft from a store in Dudley Street last month.
Following further enquiries, 51-year-old Alpesh Patel was charged with five thefts and 49-year-old Marie Griffin was charged with theft.
Both were held in police custody overnight and were due to appear before Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Griffin later pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay compensation of £40.
Officers on the West Sector team also arrested a 25-year-old man on Tuesday on suspicion of thefts from three shops and supermarkets in the Oxley and Stafford Road area.
Luke Wigley was charged with 19 theft offences and appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates on Wednesday, where he was remanded in custody to appear back before Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on September 2.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "These arrests are part of our #SaferStreetsSummer work to tackle issues around retail crime and antisocial behaviour across the city.
"If you see any suspicious activity while you are out and about please tell us. You can do this by calling 101."
