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Cambridge spree team secure more than 1,000 charges for crimes including bike theft, criminal damage and shoplifting




More than 1,000 charges have been secured by police in Cambridge as part of a crackdown on retail crime, bike theft and begging.

The Spree Offending Team, which is based at Parkside Police Station, was set up in September last year to tackle the area’s most prolific criminals.

Sergeant Dan Scott (right) and members of the spree offending team Picture: Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Sergeant Dan Scott (right) and members of the spree offending team Picture: Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Officers have since made 168 arrests and secured charges for 1,032 crimes including bike theft, criminal damage, possessions of knives and drugs, burglary, theft from motor vehicles, going equipped for theft and hundreds of shoplifting offences.

The team has also secured Criminal Behaviour Orders for 12 prolific offenders, including four this month.

Daniel Robinson, 39, of Histon Road, Cambridge, is banned from Flannels in King Street and Teversham BP Garage on Newmarket Road, as well as any Co-op within Cambridgeshire for five years.

Scott Reynolds, 37, of no fixed address, has been banned from any John Lewis or BP store within the boundary of the M11, A11, A505 and A14 for five years. He must also not conceal any item in any shop in Cambridgeshire.

Liam Basham, 30, of no fixed address, has been banned from every Co-op in Cambridgeshire as well as Sainsbury’s and BP Garage in Teversham Road for two years.

Joshua Collinson-Prime, 29, of East Road, Cambridge, is also banned from every Co-op, Sainsbury’s and BP store within Cambridgeshire and must not conceal any item in any shop in Cambridgeshire.

Sergeant Dan Scott, who leads the team of five police constables, said: “We work daily to identify and track down persistent and prolific offenders responsible for large numbers of crimes across Cambridge and beyond. We then work alongside our partner agencies and other departments to try and prevent the individuals from further offending.

“There can be a misconception that ‘lower-level’ criminality such as theft, retail crime and criminal damage are less important and given less priority than other crimes.

“However, we recognise the impact these spree offences have on victims, businesses and employers including financial loss, abuse, threats and intimidation. We will continue to work tirelessly to arrest and put before the courts anyone committing offences in Cambridgeshire.”

Detective Inspector Juliet Heald, who oversees the team, added: “The Spree Offending Team have transformed our response to spree offenders, with a particular focus on retail crime. Their hard work is reflected in their impressive results and the sheer numbers of offenders that have been brought to justice over the last year. Their work has also prevented many other crimes from taking place.”

Earlier this month the force supported the National Business Crime Centre’s (NBCC) Safer Business Action Week (14-20 October) working with retailers and partners in defined areas for days of targeted activity.

This included joint high-visibility patrols, proactive activity against known offenders and crime prevention campaigns.




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