Prolific offender pleads guilty to eight counts of shoplifting

A prolific shoplifter has been caught and brought to justice after pleading guilty to a series of shoplifting offences in Dorking and Leatherhead.

Joseph Hawkins, 32 (28/03/1991), of Falkland Road, Dorking, pleaded guilty to eight offences of theft/attempted theft from a shop and was sentenced to a four-week custodial sentence and a £239 fine at Guildford Magistrates Court, yesterday (Wednesday, 7 February).

The offences were:

• Theft of alcohol totalling to £90 from Waitrose, Dorking on Tuesday, 19 December 2023.
• Theft of alcohol totalling to £177 from Sainsburys, Leatherhead on Thursday, 21 December 2023.
• Theft of alcohol and steaks totalling to £133 from Sainsburys, Dorking on Wednesday, 10 January 2024.
• Theft of alcohol totalling to £150 from Waitrose, Dorking on Tuesday, 16 January 2024.
• Theft of alcohol totalling to £202.30 from Waitrose, Dorking on Monday, 22 January 2024.
• Theft of alcohol totalling to £442 from Waitrose, Dorking on Wednesday, 24 January 2024.
• Theft of six bottles of whiskey totalling to £317 from Waitrose, Dorking on Thursday, 25 January 2024.
• Theft of goods totalling to £9.95 from Waitrose, Dorking on Tuesday, 6 February 2024.

Hawkins was arrested after being identified on caught on CCTV footage from a number of the stores he targeted, where he could clearly be seen walking into the store, taking items from the shelf, placing them in a bag and then walking out. On some occasions, he would pretend to pay at the self-service machine but then would leave without paying.

Mole Valley Borough Commander, Inspector James Green, said: “It is reassuring to the local community that such a prolific offender has been caught and dealt with through the courts. Hawkins has targeted local supermarkets across Dorking and Leatherhead repeatedly over the last few months and we know how much distress and inconvenience that this causes for shop workers. Shoplifting will not be tolerated, and we hope that the outcome in court yesterday shows that we are committed to tackling it and that we will continue to work with our local businesses to tackle this crime type.”

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