27/03/12….Appeal as shoplifting gang hits Thame High street

THAMES Valley Police are investigating three reports of thefts in Thame, including two incidents of shoplifting.
Two of the incidents happened on Saturday, March 24 – one the theft of a mobile phone from a Thame pub and the other shoplifting of underwear. A previous offence, the theft of toiletries, happened on Wednesday, March 21.

The officer in charge of investigating these incidents, PC John Simpkins, believes that they are linked and is also investigating whether they are also linked to previous similar offences in the area.

PC Simpkins has given a description of the suspects who may be involved, although not necessarily all of them involved in every incident.

The first suspect is a man with olive skin (possibly Mediterranean looking), approx 5ft 4ins to 5ft 8ins tall, with short black hair, approx 18-25 years old. He was described as wearing dark trousers and a distinctive dark leather jacket/body warmer.

The first female also is described as having olive skin (again possibly Mediterranean looking), approx 5ft 2ins to 5ft 6ins tall, with long dark hair and of very large build (may be described a heavily pregnant). She was also described as “grubby looking” and wearing a long dark skirt and a scarf in her hair, and carrying a bag on her shoulder.

A second female is described also as having olive complexion (Mediterranean looking), approx 5ft 4ins to 5ft 6ins tall, with long dark hair, of medium build, and wearing trousers.

All three are said to speak with broken English and their tactic is to distract shop staff by any means possible (this may be by booking appointments or asking to try specific clothes on etc). They tend to crowd the staff and fire questions at them to catch them off guard.

The police are currently examining CCTV footage recorded in one of Thame shops where an offence appears to have been committed.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Simpkins via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101. If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

No personal details are taken. Information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.