Pair arrested after £100 ‘trolley dash’ theft from store

A MAN and a woman have been arrested after a ‘trolley dash’ theft from Newton Abbot’s Asda store.

The couple were detained by police after a 28-year-old Teignmouth woman was found outside the store with a trolley full of stolen food.

Police were alerted to the incident on Saturday night after a taxi driver was offered a bag filled with jointed meat by a man.

The taxi driver alerted police and officers contacted the CCTV team to help them track down the mysterious meat seller.

Cameras picked up a man shortly after he had concealed a bag of meat behind the Western Service area, near the bus station.

Trevor Austin, CCTV co-ordinator, said: “I knew from intelligence that he was working with a woman so we alerted Newton Abbot Business Security Group through the radio system which shops are linked up to.

“Asda found the female in their store. She was stopped outside by the cash dispensers by security with a trolley of stolen food. She had met up with the male. Police turned up and they were arrested.

“In total up to £100 of food had been stolen, including £40 worth of meat that was found in the hidden bag of food when it was recovered.

“Once again this demonstrates how well CCTV, police and NABS work together to make sure we stop any suspicious activity.”

A woman and a man, 31, also from Teignmouth, were arrested on suspicion of theft with the man also being arrested for possessing cocaine.

Both were taken to Torquay police station and were bailed in connection with the allegations until Thursday, August 26.

The woman was charged with possessing 200mg of cannabis and will appear before South Devon magistrates on Tuesday, August 10.