A man has been banned from five major Southend stores after being charged with multiple shop thefts.

Work from Essex Police's business crime team has resulted in a man from Southend being sentenced to 18 weeks in prison and issued with a Criminal Behaviour Order.

Joe Linnen, 28, of no fixed address, appeared at Southend Magistrates' Court on May 17 where he was sentenced and issued with a two-year CBO after being charged with multiple theft from a shop offences.

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The conditions of his CBO include not entering the following stores:

  • Tesco in The Royals, Southend
  • HMV in High Street, Southend
  • Co-op in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff
  • Marks and Spencer in High Street, Southend 
  • Sainsbury's in London Road, Southend

The order will run until May 16, 2025.

The investigation was managed by the business crime team, who support businesses including independent shops and retail chains. The team works closely with businesses, explaining how they can report crime to us and what will happen when they do.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "They help to identify risks in the workplace, providing crime prevention, fraud and cyber-crime advice and strengthening links with businesses and partners, including local community safety partnerships, Essex Chambers of Commerce and the Essex Federation of Small Businesses. 

"Working with the National Business Crime Centre, the team share nationally-identified crime trends and best practice with our business community.

"And they have also developed a comprehensive guide to business crime prevention which identifies steps business-owners can take to protect themselves and their properties."