News Release
Prolific thief is jailed
Dated: 23 Nov 2009
A prolific Newcastle thief is behind bars thanks to persistent work by the Neighbourhood Policing team.
Carrieanne Downs, 29, from Denmark Street, Byker, was jailed for two months on November 16, 2009, after stealing meat worth £188 from Marks and Spencer at Northumberland Street in the city centre.
Downs is a prolific city centre thief who consistently steals from shops, causing problems for retailers, and has a string of convictions. Her sentence means she'll be behind bars in the run up to Christmas.
The City Centre Neighbourhood Team closely monitored Downs' activity in an attempt to stop her offending and ensure if she did offend she would be dealt with appropriately.
Neighbourhood Inspector Darren Sweeney said: "There are a small number of criminals who are responsible for a disproportionate percentage of crime committed within the city centre and indeed other parts of Newcastle.
"They can rest assured that we are targeting their activities and will use every method at our disposal to stop their offending. The city currently has extra resources as part of Operation Cracker and we are ensuring that it is an uncomfortable place for criminals to operate."