Good News - We caught the Clean Thief

Good News - We caught the Clean Thief

Good afternoon everyone, 

So, I have a story to tell, so stay with me because it has a fantastic ending.

This is Garth Murphy of no fixed abode, otherwise known as the clean thief.

The has been a spat of shoplifting offences at Sainsburys on Earls Court Road between the 27th August up to and including Saturday 10th October. A total of £2346 of goods have been taken by some very brazen actions. These actions have not only caused anxiety to the staff a the store but to the local community as it appeared that he was untouchable. 

We set up an operation on Saturday to capture the suspect, utilizing plain clothes officers working with the staff in Sainsburys. At 1855hrs our suspect who has been named the Clean thief, due to his favourite items being cleaning products, entered the store and took items to the value of £78. As he was attempting to leave, our plain clothes officers jumped into action and arrested him before he had chance to leave. 

He was taken to hammersmith Custody and he was later, like 0230 in the morning later, charged with 14 shoplifting offences and possession of cannabis. He was remanded in our custody to appear in court this morning. 

He pled guilty to all 14 shoplifting offences and the possession of cannabis. He has been sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment. He has also been issued with a community Protection Notice which bans him from the SW5 postcode and all Sainsburys stores in Kensington and Chelsea as well as not to be trespassing in residential premises within RBKC as he has a tendency to be found sleeping rough in communal areas of The Mansions on Earls Court Road which has caused distress to the residents living there. 

We would like to say a big thank you to the staff in Sainsburys for their assistance in the matter, especially Donna the store manager and Daliliur the Security Officer.

There is a continued investigation from these matters where we are attempting to identify other persons we believe are involved.