Serial shoplifter and Lego thief jailed after crime spree

A shoplifter who stole hundreds of pounds worth of Lego during a week-long crime spree has been jailed.

Kieran McGurk also swiped cleaning products and toiletries from the shelves of a number of stores in Hucknall between 24 and 31 July 2023.

He was identified as the thief by two neighbourhood policing team officers who recognised McGurk carrying out the thefts on CCTV images.

Both recognised him following their time on the beat in Hucknall.

Thirty-year-old McGurk, of Windmill Grove, Hucknall, was jailed for a total of 26 months when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday (18 October).

He had previously pleaded guilty to five counts of theft from a shop.

The Lego was stolen on three occasions from the Hucknall Tesco store and McGurk also targeted the town’s branches of Home Bargains and Wilko’s where he took items including detergent and shampoo.

McGurk was also sentenced for a further eight shop thefts from other stores in Hucknall during September and October this year.

He stole items including meat, chocolates and alcohol from a number of stores.

McGurk had also pleaded guilty to one count of harassment causing fear of violence after repeatedly threatening a woman at her home in Hucknall during the summer of 2022.

Inspector Jon Hewitt, neighbourhood policing inspector for Ashfield, said:

“An important part of neighbourhood policing is to get to know repeat offenders like McGurk and to work with businesses to identify them.

“McGurk is a persistent thief and I hope this custodial sentence provides some respite for the stores which have been impacted by his offending.

“We want Hucknall’s shops to thrive for the good of the whole community and will always take robust action against offenders like McGurk who can cause great harm to local businesses.”

The Ashfield Business Crime Forum, also known as Shop Watch, was launched recently in Hucknall.

The crime fighting initiative links police and a network of local shopkeepers together with handheld radios and regular face-to-face meetings.