PROLIFIC thieves who targeted shops in Coventry have been jailed.
David Wills and James Bowley, both of no fixed address, were arrested by officers in the city in connection with a series of offences throughout April and May.
Wills, 38, was identified from CCTV footage showing him entering a shop in Warwickshire Retail Park and filling his coat with items before leaving without paying.
This was followed by further thefts at the Airport Retail Park.
Wills was arrested by officers from the North East Neighbourhood, who charged him with the thefts, and with breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order.
As a result of breaching his order, Wills has been jailed for one year.
In the South North West sector, James Bowley, 35, was tracked down after targeting the same shop in Quorn Way on a number of occasions.
Officers identified and arrested him, and charged him with five offences.
He was sentenced to six weeks in prison when he appeared at Coventry Magistrates Court.
A Coventry Police spokesperson said: “Our officers across Coventry are continuing their efforts to arrest and prosecute persistent shop thieves in the city.
“With regular patrols and operations, we are keeping up the pressure on those responsible and are working with retailers to keep businesses safe.
“One of the key tools available to our teams is the Criminal Behaviour Order. These allow us to impose conditions on people and where they are allowed to go if they are known to commit crimes in a specific area.
“If they are found there, they can be immediately arrested and brought back before the courts, as well as handed a longer custodial sentence.”
Report shop thefts to police by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.
