Cheap buy in pub could be expensive

BARGAIN hunters who pick up cheap goods at the pub are being warned they face prison if their purchases turn out to be stolen.

Police will be working with shops and pubs in the run-up to Christmas to identify venues where suspect items are being sold.

As well as targeting the thieves, anyone who buys from them is running the risk of being arrested for handling stolen property; an offence which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Stoke-on-Trent Business Crime Initiative is heading up the campaign.

Julie Davies, business crime manager, pictured, said: "We are working on gathering intelligence from both the shops in the Daytime Partnership and the pubs which are members of the Nightlife Partnership, not just in the city centre but across the city.

"We will be looking at people selling in pubs, but also the people who are buying. A lot of people steal to feed a habit, be it drugs, alcohol or gambling.

"Without the people who buy the goods there would be fewer thefts.

"People may say they didn't know things were stolen, but if you're buying something that would cost £100 for a tenner, it's pretty obvious.

"At this time of year the problem increases, because there are more people in the pubs and the shops are full of desirable things."

"We want to get the message across that people that buy stolen goods from places like pubs are committing an offence and can go to prison."

Inspector Shaun Kerrigan, commander of the city centre neighbourhood policing unit, said his officers would be patrolling shops and pubs over the coming weeks.

"We'll be gathering intelligence on who's using the pubs that we also know commits crime," he said. "People who're buying the goods must suspect they're stolen, and they're handling stolen property.

"Shoplifters are usually stealing to fund a drug habit and will go straight to a pub to get what they can get for the items. If we see someone stealing and then see a transaction taking place all the parties will be arrested.

"In some cases, thieves have stolen things to order. The person who's telling them what they want will also be prosecuting for inciting someone to commit a criminal offence.

"And although we have a good relationship with most licensees, if there are any that know this is going on in their pubs they will also be prosecuted."

Posters hammering home the message will be displayed around the city, and shops which buy and sell second-hand goods will also be visited by the initiative.

Julie Davies added: "Shoplifting is not a victimless crime, the effect on business can be immense and it reduces employment opportunities. It affects every law-abiding citizen, because shops have to increase their prices to recoup some of their losses.

"We understand people want bargains, especially at Christmas; we all do. But if you are buying stolen goods you could be arrested."

Stoke-on-Trent Business Crime Initiative is a partnership between the business community, Staffordshire Police and Stoke-on-Trent City Council. It has been operating in the city centre for more than 20 years, and recently extended to other areas of the city.

It provides an extensive intelligence sharing system giving its members information on offenders targeting particular areas.