Essex Police Business Crime Team Newsletter

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Latest news from the Essex Police Business Crime Team  -  June 15, 2021

Speaking to Businesses

Support for licensees during Euros

The European Championships kicked off on Friday and Essex Police is urging fans to behave responsibly, particularly if they will be watching the matches in one of the many venues screening games around county.

We have been in touch with licensed venues to offer support but if you need extra help and guidance as a business owner please do get in touch and we can assist.

 

Euros Update

Business Updates

Open for Business Closed for Crime

Open for Business, Closed for Crime launches in Chelmsford

Last week, we launched our Open for Business, Closed for Crime campaign in Chelmsford. We were joined by Karen Buttress, Community Safety Lead Officer for Chelmsford City Council and the local Community Policing Team.

This is our campaign to tackle violence towards retail staff and as we've reported before, we have launched in other districts across the county including Clacton and Southend.

Open for Business

Sadie Griffiths

Another shoplifter given CBO  

A shoplifter who abused shop staff has been banned from entering a number shops in Benfleet and Canvey Island.

Sadie Griffiths was given a community order after being convicted of thefts at shops in the two towns in April this year.

As well as stealing from the shops, Griffiths, 26, of Merrivale, Benfleet, had also abused staff.

At Basildon Magistrates' Court on Thursday 20 May she was given a Community Behaviour Order which bans her from the following shops until 20 May 2023:

• Sainsbury’s in High Road, Benfleet;
• Co-op in High Road, Benfleet;
• Co-op in Kiln Road, Benfleet;
• Co-op in Canvey Road, Canvey Island.

Laura Wiggins, Store Manager of the Sainsbury’s in High Road, Benfleet said:

“We are delighted at the result of the court case and in particular the support from the business crime team in obtaining a criminal behaviour order preventing the suspect from entering the store and abusing employees of Sainsburys.”

Case Details

On-going operations

Theft from Charity Clothes Bins:

We have been working closely with the Salvation Army who have been suffering losses.  Their donation clothes banks are being broken into and clothes stolen.  This is having a big impact on the charity and leaving them with the added expense of repairs to bins and having to put preventative measures in place. 

We are working in partnership on an operation that will disrupt these organised gangs and hopefully lead to arrests being made.

Alcohol Theft by Organised Crime Groups:

An organised crime group is targeting national retailers by stealing hundreds of pounds worth of alcohol on each visit.  These incidents amount to tens of thousands of pounds.  We are working with retailers, looking at appropriate prevention measures as well as working with colleagues in other forces to investigate these incidents.  We have detailed evidence at our disposal and by working with other force intelligence departments we hope to identify the suspects and bring them to justice.

Get in touch:

If you have any information that may help these on-going operations or would like to get in touch about anything else, please contact us: