A Brighton shoplifter, who targeted the same shop 12 times, has been found guilty of taking thousands of pounds worth of goods from shops in North Street.
Brighton man Elliot Cahill too over £2,400 of homeware from the shop, targeting it 10 times in May and June of this year alone.
Cahill, 31, of no fixed address, was observed by staff and caught on CCTV selecting various items, including electric diffusers, pillows and luxury gift sets and leave without paying - on some occasions he even carried them out held above his head.
In March he was also caught stealing cosmetics from a different store in North Street and over £100 of food from a St James’s Street supermarket in two separate visits.
In May, he entered a different home store in North Street, coming back later to steal a large mirror and a storage box worth over £100.
Cahill stole goods worth more than £2,800 in total over a four-month period.
He was charged with 16 counts of shoplifting and, at Lewes Crown Court on Monday, June 13, was found guilty of all charges.
He was released on bail with conditions barring him from some areas of the city centre, pending sentencing on Wednesday, August 3.
Inspector Ben Hearth, Brighton and Hove’s lead for business crime, said:
“Elliot Cahill was identified as a prolific offender thanks to the collaboration between Sussex Police, businesses and our partners in the community.
“That sense of teamwork is vital to catching these repeat offenders who cause so much harm to our communities – not just in financial losses to the businesses they target, but to the shop workers who are intimidated and forced into impossible situations.
“We will continue to work alongside the business community to protect them from harm and bring perpetrators to justice.”
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne says:
"The brazen attitude of this individual, who repeatedly stole from Brighton shops with no regard for the negative impact he was having on customers and staff, highlights why Sussex Police is working hard with businesses to prevent repeat offending.
“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime, neither is its impact low level so I’m very pleased that this individual has been found guilty.
"His conviction is a great example of how Sussex Police work with partners to deter criminals and remove prolific offenders from communities.”
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