Thief Tobias Bennet has been told to wear an electronic tag after repeatedly targeting Home Bargains. The 25-year-old stole washing products and cleaning products worth £274 after stealing from the Congleton branch on four occasions across January and February.
Now Bennet, of Congleton, has been hauled before magistrates after pleading guilty to theft from a shop. Following the hearing at Crewe Magistrates' Court the defendant was handed a community order, electronically tagged and told to undergo drug rehabilitation.
He was also ordered to pay compensation. Sergeant Vicky Welch, of Cheshire Police, said: “Some people wrongly think that stealing from shops is a low-level crime, but the reality is that the impact that theft has on businesses and their staff is so much more than this. Businesses lose stock and money, and staff worry about having to confront a potential shoplifter, never quite knowing whether the next person who comes through the door is going to try to take stock and potentially assault them in the process.
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"No one should have to worry about their safety when they are just doing their job. That’s why we continue to work with businesses to help prevent crime and do everything we can to put thieves before the courts for their crimes.”