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I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Theft - (shoplifting, personal, other), which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey. A 38-year-old man from Southampton has been jailed after stealing more than £3,000 worth of items from stores in West End, Hedge End, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh and Southampton.
Laurence Benjamin Cuthbert, 38, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to 32 shopliftings when he appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 27 August. He was subsequently sentenced to eight months behind bars.
It follows the theft of various items, including laundry products, meat, cheese, alcohol, sweets and coffee, from the following stores between Thursday 14 May and Wednesday 19 August;
• Co-op, High Street, West End
• Co-op, Shakespeare Road, Eastleigh
• Tesco, Swan Centre, Eastleigh
• Co-op, Hursley Road, Chandler’s Ford
• Sainsbury’s, Leigh Road, Eastleigh
• Sainsbury’s, Tollbar Way, Hedge End
• Marks & Spencer, Coles Close, Eastleigh
• Tesco Express, Wessex Road, West End
• Co-op, Bassett Green Road, Southampton
• Tesco Express, Burgess Road, Southampton
Speaking after sentencing, Sergeant Ralph Akehurst, of Hedge End Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I am pleased to see Cuthbert placed behind bars. This sentence will offer the affected stores some much needed and deserved protection from his offending, thus preventing any further thefts and losses at his hands.
"Cuthbert has continually targeted shops across our district and beyond, showing no willingness to comply with the law in the process.
“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime and we continue to regularly target and prosecute those intent on stealing from our local businesses.
"Repeat offenders, in particular, can create an environment of fear and worry for many retail workers, and this is simply not okay and will never be tolerated.
“We want to stop this criminality, and encourage businesses affected to please keep reporting crimes to us, so we can relentlessly pursue those responsible.
“Local policing teams put in a lot of work to support our local businesses, disrupt habitual offenders like Cuthbert, and also work with support services for those whose offending cycle is driven by other factors such as drug and alcohol dependency.”
If you are a shop owner or staff member, please continue to report any shopliftings to us.
You can do this by calling 101, or by reporting online via the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website.
You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or via the below link;
With your information, we can take action, including arresting and charging suspects and convicting offenders at court, as the above again demonstrates.
 If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at www.hampshire.police.uk, or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. Get Involved Please consider getting involved by registering for these messages, this will enable you to contribute to the local priority survey. We may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on. Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 
Please click here to complete the survey
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