Stansted woman jailed and Bishop’s Stortford man charged as police target shoplifters

A Stansted woman is in jail and a Bishop’s Stortford man has been charged as police clamp down on shoplifting in the town centre.

Samantha Baigent, 44, from Cannons Court, appeared at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court on Friday March 7, when she pleaded guilty to three thefts and was jailed for 12 weeks.

Rory Brytz, 33, of Atherton Close, will appear at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday March 26.

According to Hertfordshire Constabulary, on Tuesday March 4 police community support officers (PCSOs) were on patrol when they were made aware of a theft from Sainsbury’s in Jackson Square.

The suspect ran off but was spotted a short time later. Brytz was arrested by officers from the neighbourhood policing team (NPT).

The following day, PCSO Scott Rome spotted two people wanted in connection with multiple thefts.

Following a chase by PCSO Clare Andrews, Baigent was detained and arrested. She was charged with theft of cosmetics from Bishop’s Park Tesco on September 27, 2024; theft of toiletries and beauty items from the Lancaster Way store on September 25, 2024; and stealing cosmetics from the same supermarket on February 25 this year.

PCSO Andrews said: “Theft from shops is a prominent issue nationally and we’ve been working hard to prevent offences from occurring in Bishop’s Stortford and Sawbridgeworth.

“This has included proactive patrols and operations and visual audits of hotspot locations to identify any crime prevention measures which could be put in place. We’re also continuing to work closely with local retailers and Bishop’s Stortford BID.

“The message is clear - shoplifting is not acceptable and we will keep making arrests and bringing people before the courts.”