Hatfield prolific shoplifter jailed for Christmas
The 28-year-old was linked to a string of thefts from Boots and Aldi
A prolific shoplifter will spend Christmas in jail after being caught stealing from Boots in Hatfield.
Jessica Power, 28, from Cunningham Avenue, Hatfield, was handed 16 weeks in prison at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 22 November after admitting a total of eight shoplifting offences in Hatfield, as well as two incidents of vehicle interference and a theft from a vehicle.
In October, the neighbourhood policing teams in Welwyn Hatfield began receiving reports of a woman targeting Boots for shoplifting. Evidence was captured of the suspect and she was identified as Jessica Power.
Officers identified a number of other crimes that had been closed with no suspect identified and subsequently reopened the investigations.
As a result, Power was linked to five thefts from Boots in October and November. She was also linked to a further three shopliftings in Aldi which happened in November.
Proactive patrols were carried out to try and locate Power. During this time, three further crimes came to light which included two vehicle interferences and one theft from a motor vehicle in the Hatfield area. The team quickly reviewed CCTV and identified the suspect as Power.
On Friday 21 November, Power was located and arrested in the Hatfield area for all 11 offences. The total value of the stolen goods was around £800.
Sergeant Mitchell Cartwright, who leads the Welwyn Hatfield West Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This is great news for the local business community who were being affected by Power’s offending. Our officers worked hard to bring Power to justice and this should be a warning to others who think they can get away with shoplifting.
“We know the festive period can see an increase in shopliftings which is why we will be running a dedicated operation throughout December. Operation Hornet will see increased patrols aiming to deter shoplifting, arrest offenders and reassure local businesses.”
Chief Inspector Pete Frost added: “We take a strong stance against shoplifting and Operation Hornet will ensure that shoplifters cannot get away with their crimes.
“The operation will run alongside the countywide ‘Winter of Action’ campaign, which follows the success of the Safer Town Centres campaign which ran over summer. Shoppers, business owners and those enjoying the night-time economy can expect to see a heightened police presence in the town centres as we work to keep the community safe.”