Woman, 18, charged after haul of iPhones worth £17k ‘stolen from Scots Apple Store'

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

SUSPECT NICKED Woman, 18, charged after haul of iPhones worth £17k 'stolen from Scots Apple Store'
A TEENAGER has been arrested and charged after a haul of iPhones worth £17,000 were allegedly stolen from a Scots store.
The alleged shoplifting incidents took place on Sunday, June 1 and Wednesday, July 9 at Braehead Shopping Centre near Glasgow.
3
A haul of iPhones worth over £17,000 were allegedly stolen from Braehead
Credit: The Sun
3
An 18-year-old woman has been arrested and charged over the alleged shoplifting incidents
Credit: Getty
The 18-year-old woman was arrested on July 11 following in-depth enquiries by local officers, supported by key intelligence from the Retail Crime Taskforce.
She is due to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court on Thursday, October 2.
iPhones worth more than £17,000 were allegedly stolen from the Apple store at the major retail outlet over the two separate dates.
A 19-year-old man was also arrested and charged in connection with the alleged shoplifting on Sunday, June 1.
And a woman, 42, has also been reported in connection with the alleged incident on July 9.
Detective Inspector Emma Wright from the Retail Crime Taskforce said: "The taskforce was created for this very purpose – to provide local officers with enhanced resources and assistance for tackling retail crimes.
"We want to send a very clear message that no part of the country should be considered an easy target.
"We will provide our assistance wherever it is required and work alongside divisional colleagues to bring offenders to justice."
Chief Inspector Alex Marshall, Local Area Commander for Renfrewshire, added: "Braehead is one of our area's largest retail sites.
"We will continue to use all resources at our disposal, including the specialisms available with the Retail Crime Taskforce, to tackle this type of crime wherever it arises within Renfrewshire."
Moment model chases thief after her phone is ripped from her hand in London
It comes as more than 40 people have been arrested in connection with retail crime offences in Edinburgh during the first three months of the Retail Crime Taskforce.
Between April 1 and July 14 this year, policing teams charged 44 individuals with 228 crimes - including shoplifting, assault, possession of weapons and breaches of the peace.
Several people have been given bail conditions banning them from the city centre, meaning any breach of these conditions will see them remanded in custody prior to their court hearing.
Inspector Emma Wright from the Retail Crime Taskforce said: "I am really encouraged with the positive start Taskforce officers have made in Edinburgh, as they work alongside divisional colleagues to identify retail crime offenders and bring them to justice.
"We cannot and will not become complacent, however, and will continue to target those involved in crimes of this nature across the country.
"Our role is to support and empower all local policing areas in addressing retail crime and I look forward to even more success stories in the Capital and throughout Scotland in the coming weeks and months.
"By working together, Police Scotland, the retail sector and other key partners aim to make it clear that retail crime will not be tolerated."