Prolific Coventry shoplifter jailed
It's as West Midlands Police have seen a rise in the amount of theft on our streets.
A prolific shoplifter from Coventry is behind bars after officers in the city put an end to his spree of offending.
Wes Bickley was jailed on 21 August for six months after being convicted of more than a dozen thefts from shops in the city.
Bickley, 41, was jailed for six months at Coventry Magistrates Court just days after he was arrested after being linked to a series of thefts, most of which happened at Boots at the Warwickshire Retail Park.
Bickley, who was arrested by officers from the Stoke and Wyken neighbourhood team, is one of a number of prolific shoplifters we have arrested and prosecuted already this year.
The thefts took place between June and August this year and included stealing car air fresheners, cosmetics, razors and shampoo.
The rate of shoplifting has hit its highest level for two decades nationally, with thefts from shops and stalls increasing by 28 per cent in 2023.
In the West Midlands, the force have also seen an increase locally.
They've recorded a 30 per cent increase between April and June this year (compared to the same time in 2023) which is 7,443 offences and in May alone we recorded 2,532 offences.
As well, officers have detected 1,763 offences between April and June compared to only 639 offences detected last year.