A MAN who stole an employee’s handbag from a carpet store on Main Road in Hallow has been jailed for eight weeks.
Lewis Ilesley, of Coppice Close in Hallow, also pleaded guilty to five further thefts from shops when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.
As well as the jail term, he was also ordered to pay £277.48 compensation.
The theft happened on September 7 when he entered the office area of The House Doctor carpet shop and made off with a handbag belonging to a store employee.
Members of the public assisted the victim in retrieving her handbag before Ilsley left the scene.
He was arrested the same day by DC James Potter of South Worcestershire’s Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Team (NCFT).
Sgt Shaun Blackshaw, from the Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Team, said “Burglaries are a priority for West Mercia Police.
“The impact of these crimes on the victim and the community is high.
“We are working hard to catch and convict burglars across the county.”
He added it was thanks to members of the public that Ilesley was caught – as well as helping the victim get her handbag back, they also took photographs of him which enabled officers to quickly identify, apprehend and arrest him.
