Serial shop and cycle thief jailed

A serial shop and cycle thief in Cambridge has been jailed.

Ralph Allgood stole alcohol, chocolate, laundry products, handbags and clothing from stores including the Co-Op, Sainsbury’s Tesco, Hollister, TK Maxx and Nisa across Cambridge between 1 May and 22 July.

The 37-year-old, of East Road, Cambridge, also took two bikes, worth hundreds of pounds, from Cambridge Cycle Park on 29 June and 6 July.

He was captured on CCTV during all of the crimes and at Peterborough Crown Court on Wednesday (6 November), Allgood was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of bike theft, 21 counts of shop theft, possession of cannabis, making off without payment and driving whilst disqualified.

Sergeant Dan Scott, from the Spree Offending Team, said: “Allgood has brought absolute misery to businesses and employees across Cambridge with his prolific shoplifting over recent months. Many think that shoplifting is a victimless crime but this sentence reflects the seriousness of repeat offending. I hope this sentence provides businesses with some respite over the coming months and Allgood takes up the opportunities available to him to help stop his offending.”