Jail for shoplifter who threatened retail staff

A Cambridge shoplifter who threatened to turn up at a staff member’s house has been jailed.

On 11 February, Peter McClelland, 37, entered Sainsbury’s in Station Road, Cambridge, where he filled a rucksack with cans of alcohol worth £30 before leaving without making any attempts to pay. He was challenged by a staff member on his way out, and shouted at them that he knew where they lived, threatening to turn up to their house.

McClelland, of Bliss Way, Cambridge, was arrested by the Spree Offender Team in High Street, Chesterton, on Monday (8 April) and later charged with nine offences:

• Theft of alcohol worth a total of £30 from Sainsbury’s, Station Road, Cambridge, on 11 February
• Using threatening language with intent to cause fear of violence at Sainsbury’s, Station Road, Cambridge, on 11 February
• Theft of two sausage rolls and a hotdog worth a total of £5.20 from Budgens, Arbury Court, Cambridge, on 26 February
• Theft of cleaning products worth a total of £50 from Co-Op, Adkins Corner, Cambridge, on 27 March
• Theft of hot food, chocolate, beer, and phone chargers worth a total of £40 from Co-Op, Adkins Corner, Cambridge, on 27 March
• Theft of 24 chocolate bars worth a total of £36 from Co-Op, Adkins Corner, Cambridge, on 29 March
• Theft of a bottle of wine and three boxes of chocolate worth a total of £31.50 from Co-Op, Adkins Corner, Cambridge, on 30 March
• Theft of alcohol of an unknown value from Co-Op, Brookgate, Cambridge, on 31 March
• Theft of razors, coffee, and toothpaste worth a total of £146.75 from Co-Op, Hills Road, Cambridge on 2 April

He appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (9 April), where he was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, which includes the activation of two suspended sentences that he was given in February for a range of theft offences.

PC Sarah Pride, who investigated, said: “We have a dedicated team in Cambridge to tackle prolific offending including shoplifting – the Spree Offender Team – who are working quickly and robustly with other departments to tackle offending and prevent future crimes and victims.

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

“I would like to thank the shops involved for their consistent reporting of offences, regardless of the value, as this aids us in identifying prolific offenders such as McClelland and putting them before the courts.”

Information about protecting a business from crime can be found on the force’s dedicated business crime prevention webpage.