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News 25 February to 3 March
A Colchester shoplifter has admitted 33 shop thefts and ignoring a court order 31 times, following a neighbourhood policing team investigation.
Daniel Jones, 38, of Spruce Avenue, was arrested by a Colchester officer who found him cowering inside the base of a divan bed at his home on 6 February.
After hearing he was subject to a suspended jail term and a two-year criminal behaviour order forbidding him from entering any Co-op store in Essex, which Jones admitted breaching 31 times, Chelmsford magistrates remanded him in custody on 28 February.
The case was adjourned until 30 March, when Jones is due to be committed to Chelmsford Crown Court for sentencing.
Altogether, the total loss to the four stores he targeted was £2,926.73.
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Our officers are dedicated to keeping rural Essex safe, reducing crime and ensuring offenders face justice. Their commitment helped to make our rural communities safer in 2025
The county is 72% rural and we’ve got an expert Rural Engagement Team (RET) devoted to tackling crimes which specifically affect rural communities, businesses, farms and estates.
But all our officers – from neighbourhood and roads policing teams to detectives and other specialists – continue to work hard to keep these rural communities safe.
In the past year, the number of crimes in rural Essex has dropped by 5%, or 992 offences. Residential and business burglaries have reduced significantly, as have thefts of and from vehicles.
There were 131 fewer thefts from shops, 133 fewer public order offences and 101 fewer offences of criminal damage. Violent crime has also dropped in rural areas.
The latest phase of an operation to target organised criminal activity on Essex’s roads has led to 29 arrests.
Officers from Roads Policing, neighbourhood and local policing teams worked alongside the Operational Support Group (OSG) and Intelligence across two nights in Epping, Harlow, Loughton, Colchester and Tendring.
Arrests were made for offences including possession of drugs with intent to supply, possession of weapons, assault and drug driving.
The team stopped 170 vehicles, made 29 seizures and issued 64 tickets for traffic offences.
They were joined by immigration officials from the Home Office to combat exploitation and criminality in the gig economy and safeguard any vulnerable individuals.
Riders working for takeaway delivery companies were checked to make sure they had the correct licences, insurance, and the legal right to work. Across the two evenings, 57 immigration checks were carried out and 18 of the arrests involved immigration offences.
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 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Thursday 12 March 11am to 12pm
Highwoods Square, Colchester CO4 9ED
Tuesday 24 March 10am to 11am
Mercury Theatre Balkerne Gate, CO1 1PT
Thursday 12 March 11am to 12pm
Coggeshall Rd,
Thursday 2 April 10am to 11am
Mercury Theatre Balkerne Gate,
Tuesday 21 April 10am to 11am
Mercury Theatre Balkerne Gate,
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 Crime prevention advice
Cycle Crime Prevention – Keeping Your Bike Secure in Colchester
We’ve seen a recent rise in bike thefts across Colchester, particularly around transport hubs, town‑centre racks, and residential storage areas. Many offences are quick, opportunistic, and avoidable with a few simple steps.
To help keep your bike safe:
• Use a quality lock – ideally two.
Combine a solid D‑lock with a robust chain or cable. Cheap locks are often cut within seconds.
• Secure the frame and both wheels.
Lock your bike to a fixed, immovable object in a well‑lit, busy area. Thieves avoid places where they can be seen.
• Remove accessories.
Take lights, GPS units, and easily detachable parts with you.
• Register your bike.
Mark and register your frame number on BikeRegister.com – this helps officers identify and return stolen bikes and acts as a deterrent.
• Record the details.
Keep photos of your bike, including any unique features, and note the frame number. This information is vital for investigation.
• At home – lock it up.
Use ground anchors or secure points in sheds, garages, or communal storage areas. Most thefts happen overnight at residential properties.
If you see suspicious activity around cycle racks or storage areas, please report it on www.essex.police.uk, via Live Chat, or by calling 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.
Together, we can reduce bike thefts and keep Colchester’s cycling community safe.
Be fraud smart
Fraud Alert – Beware of Counterfeit Goods
Counterfeit goods are becoming increasingly common, particularly through online marketplaces and social‑media selling groups. These items often look convincing, but they are usually poor‑quality imitations and can be dangerous. Buying or selling counterfeit products also supports organised crime groups who profit from fraud.
How to protect yourself:
• Be cautious of prices that seem “too good to be true.”
Luxury brands or high‑value items sold at a large discount are often fake.
• Buy from reputable retailers.
Use official brand websites or trusted high‑street stores. Be wary of unofficial sellers, especially those who pressure you to buy quickly.
• Check the details.
Poor stitching, spelling errors on labels, low‑quality packaging, or unfamiliar logos are common signs of counterfeit goods.
• Avoid cash-only transactions.
Fraudsters often insist on cash to avoid traceability. Using secure payment methods gives you better protection.
• Report suspicious sellers.
If you come across fake goods, report them to Trading Standards or Essex Police. Your information helps us disrupt fraud and protect the community.
Counterfeit items don’t just hurt your wallet—they can fund criminal networks and put you at risk. Staying vigilant ensures you’re getting the real thing and helps keep Colchester safe.
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 What is the law relating to clamping?
Private land
It is a criminal offence to clamp/block/tow away a vehicle on private land without lawful authority. Lawful authority to immobilise or move a vehicle is restricted to a number of organisation such as the police, DVLA and local authorities.
Privately owned land includes car parks, such as those at retail parks, whether or not there a fee is payable in order to park there (not local authority run car parks).
To commit this offence a person must intend to prevent the owner/driver from moving their vehicle. Therefore, clamping your own car to prevent theft would not be an offence. No offence would be committed where a driver was prevented from leaving a car park because the vehicle's exit was blocked by a fixed barrier.
Public highways
Clamping of a vehicle on a public highway can only be done by public bodies, namely; a local authority, the police or the DVLA. Normally vehicles are only clamped on a public highway if the vehicle has no excise licence, parked in no waiting or other restricted area (eg permit holders only).
We would suggest owners of private land seek legal advice either from a solicitor or the Citizens Advice via the link below with regard to the provisions they can take to prevent people parking on their land:
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england.htm
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How to contact us
Add week's upcoming events here
Find out the best way to contact us when it’s not an emergency and the specialist services we offer for people with hearing or speech impairments who would like to contact us.
How to contact Essex Police
Call 999 in emergency situations like these:
- there is an immediate danger to life
- someone is using violence or is threatening to be violent
- a road traffic collision where life is at risk, or the road is blocked
- a crime is happening right now, like a house burglary or a theft
If you accidentally dial 999, please stay on the line and tell the operator you’re safe and that no crime has occurred.
Find out the best way to contact us when it’s not an emergency and the specialist services we offer for people with hearing or speech impairments who would like to contact us.
How to contact Essex Police
Call 999 in emergency situations like these:
- there is an immediate danger to life
- someone is using violence or is threatening to be violent
- a road traffic collision where life is at risk, or the road is blocked
- a crime is happening right now, like a house burglary or a theft
If you accidentally dial 999, please stay on the line and tell the operator you’re safe and that no crime has occurred.
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