Police in Trowbridge crackdown on theft and burglary offences

They have already arrested and charged one prolific offender who has committed 21 offences during the period from January to June.

Sergeant Charly Chilton, of the Trowbridge Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “He has actually been sentenced and has gone to prison.

“I would rather not name him because of other work that is ongoing. I would rather not jeopardise that.

“We have successfully applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order in relation to this man. The conditions of this order prohibit him from attending a number of named stores.

"We are only able to apply for conditions where we are able to evidence offending in specific stores.

“As well as targeting individual offenders, we are working with partner agencies to address issues such as homelessness, mental health and substance misuse which will further reduce offending.”

Inspector Andy Lemon and Sergeant Charly Chilton on patrol in Trowbridge Town centre taking a look at the Town Bridge area. (Image: Trevor Porter)

The first six months of this year has seen a 13 per cent rise in reports of theft, with 337 offences having been reported in the period from January to the end of June.

Of these, 210 relate to shoplifting offences, of which 81 occurred in the town centre, 71 in Adcroft and Paxcroft, 21 Longfield, 35 in Drynham and Grove, one in Lambrok and two in Trowbridge Rural.

Sgt Chilton said one woman and two men have also been arrested, each for six offences, as police crackdown on theft and shoplifting.

“For our team, it is absolutely about bringing offenders to justice but it is also about dealing with the root cause.

“If they are offending, for example, because of substance misuse, it is about trying to get the necessary support agencies around that person to assist, whether that be with homelessness or substance misuse.

“Ultimately, if they deal with their substance misuse then they are going to stop offending.”

There has also been a 35 per cent rise in burglaries during the first half of the year.

Of the 57 offences reported, 33 related to ‘business burglary’ on commercial premises. Of these, just under half (15), relate to offences that occurred within Trowbridge town centre.

A 52-year-old man has been arrested in relation to seven of these offences. He is on bail with conditions prohibiting him from Trowbridge town centre, pending further enquiries.

He has also been arrested in connection with a further three burglaries that have occurred elsewhere in Trowbridge.

In addition to the ten offences mentioned above, a further three people have been arrested and charged with burglary offences.