Police arrest Gosport man, 35, following string of shoplifting attacks

Shops across Gosport and Alver had been targeted during a two-month spree, Hampshire Constabulary said.

The first incident was reported on May 17, in which a suspect stole about £400 of meat from the Spar store, in Tukes Avenue, Gosport.

Then, days later on May 21, a similar theft took place at the Tesco store in Alver Village Square, with £60 of meat snatched.

The last incident was reported on July 17, when a male suspect stole a pair of £40 headphones from the same Tesco store.

Officers investigating the spate of thefts today raided an address in Solebay Road, at about 9am.

A police spokeswoman said a 35-year-old man from Gosport was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting in relation to the trio of attacks.

‘He remains in custody at this time,’ a police spokeswoman said.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.