A prolific shoplifter who once held a GUN to a shop worker’s head has been jailed after stealing more than £6,800 worth of goods in a fresh crime spree.
Dale Searle, 38, targeted stores and was caught on CCTV casually walking into shops with his own shopping list before leaving with bags full of goods.
The prolific thief has now been jailed for two years after admitting 19 counts of shop theft, assaulting an emergency worker and a business burglary, as reported by Need To Know.
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His latest offences were committed between March and May this year across Worthing, with Searle targeting Co-op stores in Heene Road and Ham Road, Sainsbury’s at Lyons Farm, Morrisons at Broadwater and Tesco in Dominion Road.
Footage showed him entering a Tesco Express on two separate occasions.
On each visit, he was seen carrying his own shopping list before filling bags with goods and walking out without paying.
The total value of the stolen items was more than £6,800.
Searle, of no fixed address, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on September 4, where he admitted the offences.
He was sentenced to two years in prison.
Sussex Police said Searle was already known as a prolific shoplifter and had previously been jailed for shoplifting offences in February this year.
Inspector Chris Bryant said: “Searle is a repeat offender who had previously been jailed for shoplifting offences in February this year.
“We understand the impact shoplifting and retail crime has on staff, shoppers, and our communities, and we are working closely with partners to prevent offences.
“This case shows our determination to catch prolific offenders who we are identifying through Operation Apprentice.
“Searle is now serving a custodial sentence.”
But Searle’s offending record stretches back further.
In a previous Worthing robbery, he was jailed alongside Danny Cobbold after a shop worker was threatened with a gun.
Searle and Cobbold were convicted over the robbery, with the pair among a group who targeted a shop in Worthing.
Sussex Police said it was working with retailers and other partners to prevent further offences.
The force’s latest figures highlight the scale of shoplifting in Worthing, with 64 shoplifting offences recorded in the Worthing Central area during August alone.
Searle is now serving his two-year sentence.
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