A prolific thief who targeted stores across Nottingham also carried out a brazen theft in Mapperley as part of a months-long crime spree.
Joe Edwards repeatedly stole from shops across the city — including a business in Mapperley — during a run of offending that saw him strike nine times between January and May.
Among the items taken were sunglasses, alcohol, tobacco, chocolate Easter eggs and laundry products, as the 37-year-old targeted stores in Nottingham city centre, Top Valley, Wollaton, Sherwood and Mapperley.
One Sherwood shop was hit three separate times, while the Mapperley theft formed part of the wider pattern of repeat offending across the City North area.
Alongside the shoplifting, Edwards also carried out an opportunistic theft of an e-scooter in Bulwell.
On February 3, he stole the scooter within seconds of it being left inside the foyer of a Lidl on Jennison Street. The owner had barely stepped away when Edwards spotted the vehicle, jumped on it and rode off.
Nottinghamshire Police were able to link Edwards to all of the offences after reviewing CCTV footage from the targeted stores.
He was eventually arrested on Sunday, June 21, after officers spotted him in Nottingham city centre.
Edwards, of Pelham Road, Nottingham, was charged with nine counts of shop theft and one count of theft. He pleaded guilty to all offences at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court the following day.
By the time of his arrest, he had already been charged with a number of separate offences from the previous year, which he had also admitted. These included handling stolen goods, fraud by false representation, a public order offence, and possession of Class A, B and C drugs.
In total, Edwards has admitted 16 offences and is due to be sentenced at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on July 8. He has been released on bail with strict conditions until then.
Inspector Paul Ferguson, neighbourhood inspector for Nottingham’s City North, said officers had been working to track Edwards down following repeated reports from businesses.
He said: “We’ve been trying to trace Joe Edwards for some time after he committed theft after theft, so we’re naturally pleased he will now face the consequences of his actions.
“Of the 16 offences he committed, nine were shop thefts across City North and other areas of Nottingham, including incidents affecting local businesses in places like Mapperley.
“One offence saw him opportunistically steal an e-scooter and ride it away from a shop, which highlights just how brazen these types of offenders can be.
“We would always advise people to remain vigilant when securing their property and belongings to reduce opportunities for this kind of crime.
“I’d also like to praise the officers who reviewed CCTV to identify Edwards, as well as those who located and arrested him.”
