Two former employees of The Range were found to have stolen thousands of pounds worth of goods from the shop over a nine-month period. The pair collaborated to commit a total of 74 thefts, accumulating more than £8,000 worth of stolen items.
Liam Snook and Sarah Brooks, both 34 years old, were employed at the Salisbury branch of The Range. Snook worked as a sales manager, while Brooks initially served as a shop assistant before being involved in the thefts. Their thefts were conducted mainly when they were working together, although Snook occasionally stole items on his own.
The criminal activity was unearthed when a diligent new employee noticed irregularities in the pair’s behavior, leading to their apprehension by the company’s area loss prevention manager. The thefts had occurred from May 2023 to January 2024, during which Snook and Brooks took advantage of their positions to carry out the thefts.
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Following their suspension, the pair were sentenced at Salisbury Magistrates' Court. Snook was given a nine-month suspended imprisonment and 150 hours of unpaid work, while Brooks received a community order mandating 167 hours of unpaid work within the next year. Additionally, both were required to pay compensation of £2,866 each.
Local Crime Investigator Ange Dowsett characterized the thefts as “a calculated, high-value series of thefts” perpetrated by the pair, highlighting the abuse of their positions as employees. The individuals were reported to have exhibited a jubilant and planned demeanor while carrying out the theft, as shown in CCTV footage.
The pair’s criminal activity was denounced for being motivated, extensive, and lacking in remorse, with Dowsett expressing gratitude towards the reporting employee whose vigilance led to the prosecution of the offenders.