Man Jailed for £15,000 Supermarket Shoplifting Spree Across England and Wales

An individual described as a “prolific” shoplifter, who engaged in theft from supermarkets throughout England and Wales, has received a prison sentence of three years and four months. Martin Collins, residing at Lever Street, Rochdale, visited numerous retail establishments from September to November, illicitly taking merchandise valued at a cumulative £15,000, according to Humberside Police. This series of thefts concluded when he was apprehended and taken into custody at Lakeside Retail Park in Scunthorpe on November 8. The 28-year-old individual received his sentence at Grimsby Crown Court on December 6, having previously pleaded guilty to 22 charges of shop theft at the local magistrates court. Collins’ criminal activities extended across north Wales, encompassing Bangor, Caernarfon, Rhyl, and Wrexham, in addition to the Midlands, North West England, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire. His primary targets were Morrisons outlets, and at a particular store close to Blackpool on September 30, he stole items valued at almost £1,500, marking the largest single acquisition during his period of offending. Law enforcement officers apprehended the shoplifter following calls reporting a male removing a substantial quantity of merchandise from shelves at an Asda store in Scunthorpe and subsequently concealing them in a bag. An investigation was initiated by officers upon learning that a man had been engaged in “a country-wide thieving spree” between September 30 and November 6. Detective Sergeant Ian Potter, affiliated with Humberside Police’s Grimsby criminal investigation department, stated: “Collins is a prolific criminal who set out on a spree to cause disruption to multiple shop owners and communities across the county.” “Shop theft is not a low-level crime; it has a significant impact on businesses, customers, retail staff, and even wider communities.” “Crimes of this nature will not be tolerated, and we will do everything we can to seek justice to ensure our communities and businesses feel safe, and criminals are punished.” Information regarding Lincolnshire highlights is available on BBC Sounds, the most recent episode of Look North can be viewed, and submissions for potential stories are accepted at this location. This content is subject to Copyright 2024 BBC, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Details concerning the approach to external linking are available for review.