Two brothers have been sentenced to a year in prison each for a string of thefts from shops across mid and south Essex.
Photo: Aaron and Gary Taylor
Aaron and Gary Taylor, often collaborating but sometimes acting alone, targeted stores in Corringham, Lakeside shopping centre, Chelmsford, Wickford, and Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, primarily stealing hand-held scanners and a card reader valued at over £20,000.
On 2 May 2024, Southend magistrates handed down a total of 52 weeks imprisonment to each of the brothers, residing on Orchard Road, Burnham, along with a £182 victim surcharge.
They pleaded guilty to 14 counts of shop theft, with Gary Taylor, 25, also admitting to stealing a VW Passat in Stanford le Hope on 19 September 2022.
Their targets included Co-op, Holland and Barrett, Hollywood Bowl, Superdrug, New Look, H&M, and Tesco. Additionally, they stole goods valued at £600 from the Tommy Hilfiger store, £240 of perfume from The Fragrance Store, and £710 of items from JD Sports, all at Lakeside shopping centre, as well as £100 of makeup from Boots in St John’s Way, Corringham, and £131 of perfume from Tesco in Fullbridge, Maldon.
Aaron, 31, also stole two hand-held scanners from Sainsbury in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and a £210 raincoat from the Tommy Hilfiger store in Lakeside shopping centre.
The spree of 16 shop thefts occurred between 19 November 2023 and 24 January 2024.
Investigating officer PC Steve Osborn, of Lakeside Community Policing Team, said after the case: “Shoplifting is never a victimless crime.
“Aaron and Gary Taylor stole a lot of designer goods and high-priced equipment from stores, which costs businesses a lot to replace and can lead to them having to increase their prices
“The brothers are prolific offenders and some retail staff, particularly at Lakeside, have told us the impact of their offending has given them anxiety.
“But they have now been taken off the streets and out of the stores for a significant period of time.”
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