Higher levels of shoplifting in Marlborough have sparked police patrols in the area.
Officers have been conducting high-visibility patrols on Marlborough High Street, in response to a recent increase in shoplifting from shops on the High Street.
PC Williams, PC Porter, PC Rideout and PCSO Braithwaite have been out and about, offering crime prevention advice ahead of the Christmas period.
There have been a number of shoplifting incidents that have taken place in the town this year.
A spokesperson from One Stop on the High Street said: “It’s a big problem at the moment.
“We’ve had some local school children come in stealing things like sweets, energy drinks and they are just small things but it does all add up.
“But I would definitely say alcohol and sweets are the most commonly stolen things.
“We’ve also had several cases of fake notes being used as well which the police are also aware of.”
Other shoplifting incidents this year included six champagne bottles being stolen from Marlborough Majestic on June 17.
The police are still appealing for the individuals in some images captured by CCTV who they believe to be connected to the incident.
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: “We would like help to identify the people pictured below in relation to a high-value alcohol theft where six bottles of champagne were stolen.
“If you can identify the people pictured below, please call us on 101 and quote crime reference number 54220063270.”
Another high-value shoplifting incident took place nearby in Marlborough’s Tesco.
The first happened on June 28 and the second on July 5.
Both thefts occurred at the Tesco in Salisbury Road, and on both occasions a large amount of alcohol was stolen.
According to the Government, shop theft imposes high costs on communities, businesses and the economy, with over 80,000 cases of theft from a shop coming before the courts each year.
When it comes to implementing penalties, if the goods are worth less than £200, the maximum sentence is six months’ custody according to the UK Sentencing Council
But if the goods are worth more than £200, the maximum sentence is seven years’ custody.
Sentences are calculated by an assessment of culpability and harm.
Culpability is a measure of the offender's involvement in the offence, the extent to which it was planned and the sophistication of the shoplifting.
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