A prolific shop thief who targeted stores in Worthing has been jailed.
Dale Searle, 38, entered stores including the Co-op, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons in the town.
During a crime spree, he stole items worth more than £6,800.
Video footage showed Searle entering a Tesco Express store in Dominion Road on two occasions with his own shopping list.
He left stores with bags full of shopping and made no attempt to pay.
Dale Searle has been convicted after thefts worth more than £6,800 in Worthing stores earlier this spring. But he was already identified as a prolific shoplifter and was targeted for arrest as part of Operation Apprentice.
At Lewes Crown Court on 4 September, Searle, of no fixed address, admitted 19 counts of shop theft, Dale Searle has been convicted after thefts worth more than £6,800 in Worthing stores earlier this spring, including an assault on an emergency worker, and a business burglary at a vaping shop.
The incidents took place between March and May this year, with stores including the Co-op stores in Heene Road and Ham Road in Selden, Sainsbury’s at Lyons Farm, Morrisons at Broadwater, and Tesco in Dominion Road.
Searle was jailed for two years.
Speaking after the case, Inspector Chris Bryant said: “Searle is a repeat offender who had previously been jailed for shoplifting offences in February this year.
“We understand the impact shoplifting and retail crime has for staff, shoppers, and our communities, and we are working closely with partners to prevent offences.
“This case shows our determination to catch prolific offenders who we are identifying through Operation Apprentice.
“Searle is now serving a custodial sentence.”
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