Keith beats the shoplifting blight

May 23 2008 by Richard Fletcher, Chester Chronicle

WITH 18 arrests in one month, PCSO Keith Bartlett has cracked the problem of shoplifting in a Chester community.

Stores in Hoole, especially on Faulkner Street and Walker Street, have been faced with the constant problem of people stealing.

But their police community support officer has fought back, getting police to arrest those he has spotted, and now he has a message for would-be thieves: “Stay away from Hoole.”

Keith said: “We’ve had a lot of success because the store cameras are excellent and they pick up very good images.

“I’m an ex store detective and it’s about knowing the faces. If they’re not from the area the images from the CCTV are passed out to other areas to get an identification.”

One woman stealing from the Co-op store on Walker Street last Sunday was identified using colour CCTV and has now been arrested.

An old man stole from the Faulkner Street store. Manager Shirley Wood said: “It was two or three Kitkats a day, seven days a week.

“Keith is the best PCSO I have ever dealt with. He goes out of his way to help – even off duty.”

Issuing 13 parking tickets in 20 minutes, Keith is also battling illegal parking in Hoole.

Starting this week, he will be focusing on the problem around Faulkner Street, Derby Place and Westminster Road.

He says he can get up to five people a day talking to him about the parking situation. He issued 21 tickets over the last week, including the 13 in 20 minutes last Saturday. This comes despite having to fit the parking problem around the other issues he deals with on a day-to-day basis.

One driver who shouted abuse at Keith as he issued a ticket on Tuesday last week will now be getting a visit from police.

Keith said: “I’ve issued 51 tickets in the last month and that is just from when I can get here.

“Faulkner Street is by far and away the worst road. If I start giving tickets the road will clear, but if I then walk round Westminster Road and back it will be back again.

“People say it’s nice to see me.”