A shoplifter was left cursing his luck after activating a supermarket alarm at the same time a police officer arrived at the store entrance.
Thomas Howitt walked out of Tesco Express, in Oxclose Lane, Daybrook, with £55.40 worth of steaks hidden in his coat.
The theft activated the store alarm just as PC Harry Ford – a response officer based at a nearby police station – turned up at the shop.
Howitt continued walking away but was stopped by PC Ford. Howitt then threw the steaks to the ground and ran off. However he was too slow for PC Ford who managed to detain him moments later and place him in handcuffs.
The incident happened at approximately 12.45pm on Saturday 6 July.
Howitt, aged 26, of no fixed address, was charged with theft and put before the courts.
He pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday 8 July, with magistrates hearing he was wanted on a recall to prison at the time of the theft.
The court heard he had 17 previous convictions for 93 offences – including 70 thefts – and that he had continued to show a “flagrant disregard” for the law following his release from prison earlier this year.
As a result, the magistrates jailed him for nine weeks.
PC Harry Ford said the arrest demonstrated Nottinghamshire Police’s commitment to tackling and reducing shop theft, as well as taking action against repeat offenders. He said:
“Howitt is a prolific shoplifter who continued to target local stores and breach his licence conditions.
“His brazen and persistent offending has had a considerable impact on local businesses, so I am pleased we have now been able to give them some respite by removing Howitt from our streets.
“I hope this arrest reassures our local businesses, their customers and members of the public that we are treating this type of offending seriously and we will do everything we can to protect them from harm and bring offenders to justice.”
