AN operation in Taunton town centre has led to the arrest of six ‘prolific’ offenders, police say.

The Taunton Neighbourhood Policing Team recently increased efforts to crackdown on shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in the area after concerns were raises by residents. Targeted patrols began in late November and are continuing into the New Year.

The work is being carried out by a dedicated team within Avon and Somerset Police’s Incident Assessment Unit, the Volume Offenders Team, helping neighbourhood policing teams identify key locations where perpetrators are operating. Security measures may then be heightened in ‘hotspot’ shops so that resources can be focused on ‘volume offenders’ (repeat offenders with more than three outstanding crime reports).

Those arrested include:

  • A 23-year-old woman, of no fixed abode, charged with 25 counts of shop theft at local stores in Taunton, including Boots, Aldi, Marks and Spencer, Tesco Express, Co-op, Asda, Superdrug and Sainsbury’s, Hankridge Farm Retail Park. These offences took place in November and December 2024. On Monday, December 23, she was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison at Taunton Magistrates’ Court, following multiple breaches of her bail conditions.
  • A 30-year-old man, of no fixed abode, was also handed a 16-week prison sentence on December 31 for actively committing theft in breach of his bail conditions. He had previously been arrested and charged with five counts of shop theft at Sainsbury’s, Hankridge Farm Retail Park and one count of shop theft at Asda, Taunton. He was also charged with one count of shop theft at Tesco Express, Priorswood.
  • A 51-year-old woman, of no fixed abode, was arrested and charged with four counts of shop theft at Sainsbury’s, Hankridge Farm Retail Park. She appeared in court on November 26 and has been remanded in custody until January 10. On this date, she will appear at Taunton Crown Court for sentencing.
  • A 42-year-old woman, of Triscombe Road, Taunton, was arrested and charged for a dwelling burglary. She has been remanded in custody for a pre-trial plea hearing at Taunton Crown Court on January 10.
  • A 46-year-old woman, of no fixed abode, was wanted for breach of a suspended sentence by Taunton Crown Court. Patrol officers in the town centre identified and arrested her on December 14.
  • A 32-year-old woman, of no fixed abode, was wanted on recall to prison. She was also arrested in Taunton town centre on December 14.

Superintendent Lisa Simpson said: “The impact of theft and threatening behaviour on retailers – especially small businesses – cannot be underestimated. Not only does it have a knock-on effect on the running of a business, which may have economic implications for the wider community, but it can cause harassment, alarm and distress to business owners and staff.

“We are continuing to review how we work in partnership with the Taunton Business Improvement District and security teams to provide stores with the support they need.

“In the meantime, our Volume Offenders Team and neighbourhood officers in Taunton are working hard to gather evidence and compile arrest packages for well-known offenders whose actions are causing harm.”