Two individuals from Burnham-on-Sea have been formally charged with a total of 22 shoplifting offences. Tegan Shay Ford, aged 29, and Louise Jeffrey, aged 49, both residing on Highbridge Road, are scheduled to appear before Taunton Deane Magistrate’s Court on Monday, September 8.
Ford faces 13 counts of theft from shops, occurring between June 17 and August 12. Jeffrey has been charged with nine similar offences dating from June 17 to August 9 of this year.
Following their charges, both have been granted conditional bail which prohibits them from entering any retail premises in Burnham-on-Sea together until their next court date.
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PC Thomas Highton, the investigating officer, emphasized the seriousness of shoplifting, stating, “Shop theft is not a low-level crime; it affects businesses, customers, retail staff, and the wider community. We are partnering with local businesses and commercial groups to streamline the reporting process, including the submission of CCTV footage and witness statements, which are crucial for securing charges.”
He added, “We encourage anyone witnessing such incidents, especially those involving violence, to report them promptly so we can respond swiftly.”