Neighbourhood police officers unearthed a camp full of rubbish being used by homeless people and offenders during a recent crackdown.
The operation was instigated to target prolific shoplifters, and officers visited various locations around the town known to be frequented by prolific offenders.
Police also linked in with the Homeless Outreach team and other partners as a result.
During their investigation Marcus Kitching, 40, of Tawny Road, Spalding has been charged with theft and breaching a previously issued Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) and he is due to appear in court on July 1.
Sarah McCourt, 44, of no fixed address has been charged with four counts of theft and four breaches of a CBO.
She was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail due to her ‘wilful and persistent failure’ to comply with the order.
During the visit to one of the homeless camps, police identified safety issues which could affect the public and those living on the site.
“Operations like this demonstrate our commitment to tackling issues of community concern head-on. We have a number of prolific offenders impacting the town and we are working closely with partners to protect businesses, support staff and customers and hold those responsible to account,” said Sgt Callum Corder.
“Shop theft is not a victimless crime and we are determined to ensure it does not go unchecked. Persistent offending places significant pressure on local businesses and can even threaten their viability, potentially threatening access to essential goods on our high streets over time. Instance of theft can make people feel unsafe and undermine public confidence, even where overall crime levels remain stable for the district. That is simply not acceptable.
“We also recognise the wider impact on our communities. The anti-social behaviour of those who commit such crimes has a knock-on effect on residents, shoppers and those visiting the town.
“We continue to work tirelessly to keep our community safe, “he added.
