Two men jailed in crackdown on shoplifters plaguing Wednesbury businesses
Two shoplifters caught stealing hundreds of pounds worth of goods from a Black Country supermarket have been sentenced for the offences.
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Jason Saunders, aged 47, of Darlaston, has been given a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months after being charged with two counts of theft offences and a public order offence.
He was arrested after helping himself to £560 of household goods and food from Morrisons in Holyhead Road in Wednesbury on March 17. He then concealed £50 of food from the same store under his jacket on May 16 and left without paying.
He was identified with the help of CCTV footage and the local knowledge of the town's police officers. During the arrest, Saunders of no fixed address, swore at an officer and was also charged with an offence of using abusive words to cause harassment or distress.
Stephen Ngangi, aged 47, also of no fixed address, was jailed for three months and two weeks for stealing items from the store. He was caught out after being stopped by security staff and the items recovered.
During that incident the defendant threatened the staff with a wine bottle.
It also emerged that he was also wanted by West Midlands Police for failing to appear at court relating to other matters.
Officers also arrested Jason Perry, aged 53, of Latches Close, in Darlaston, for stealing from three stores in Wednesbury on three occasions in April and May.
Perry has since been given a community order after admitting three shop theft offences.
Kayli Hill, aged 34, also from Darlaston, has been charged with six shop theft offences and a theft from a person in Wednesbury.
She is due to appear in court next year relating to the allegations.
Sgt David Eeles, from the force's Wednesbury Neighbourhood Team, said: “We are having some great results in Wednesbury as we are identifying prolific offenders and taking action.
“Our officers regularly carry out patrols - through both visible and plain clothed officers - to monitor retail areas and respond to issues.
“Good quality CCTV footage gives us a better chance of securing convictions at court and putting offenders behind bars.”
