Prolific shoplifter who tried to flee the country sentenced

Wesley Maughan, 25 (DOB: 01/02/2000) of Slough, was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on Tuesday, 2 September.

In a period of six weeks, Maughan targeted Boots, Tesco and Co-op stores across Surrey, London, Buckinghamshire and Kent, stealing more than £34,000 worth of nicotine, healthcare and cosmetic products.

On multiple occasions, CCTV showed him brazenly enter a Boots store, fill bags with goods, conceal items in his coat and leave without paying.

Thanks to close work with the retailers he targeted, Surrey Police was able to identify Maughan as a suspect.

He was arrested on Saturday, 17 May, at Harwich International Port after trying to flee the country under a false identity. Despite providing a no comment interview in relation to all offences, Maughan was charged and remanded in custody two days later.

Investigating Officer, PC Annalise Ware said: "Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. It can have a devastating impact on businesses and their communities. Staff can be left feeling vulnerable and powerless and customers are also often affected.

"It is a priority for us to tackle retail crime head on, relentlessly pursuing those who steal from shops and getting them in front of the courts.

"Crucial to this is shoplifting being reported - irrespective of value - as it helps us build an intelligence picture of who the offenders are and the trends in their behaviour.

“In this case, working in partnership with retailers helped us to quickly identify Maughan as a suspect, charge and sentence him for multiple offences. I hope this outcome reassures our communities that we are committed to tackling shoplifting and serves as a reminder that we are working daily to drive retail crime out of Surrey."