Devizes police are working closely with staff at the local branch of Marks & Spencer after a spate of shoplifting in the store.

Members of staff detained a 35-year-old man last Tuesday after he was seen putting food items from off of the shelves into his rucksack.

When police arrived, items from three other shops were found in the rucksack, as well as a quantity of a class A illegal drug.

The man has been charged with shoplifting and drugs offences and is due to appear before Salisbury magistrates on August 4.

The same day, another man was arrested after allegedly stealing a packet of biscuits in Marks & Spencer. He has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Glenn Jones is due to face trial at Salisbury Crown Court on August 5 charged with stealing meat from Marks and Spencer and Somerfield as well as one offence of burglary.

Acting police sergeant Gemma Rutter said: “We are now liaising with staff at Marks & Spencer through our neighbourhood policing team to identify what types of item are most frequently stolen to see if they turn up in the houses of people suspected of crime.”