Lyme Regis: Wide investigation after theft at wine store ends in charge (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis: Wide investigation after theft at wine store ends in charge

12:00pm Wednesday 2nd May 2012 in Lyme Regis

A wide-ranging police investigation has led to a man being charged with theft from a Lyme Regis wine store.

The 34-year-old from Bexleyheath, on the outskirts of London, is due to appear before magistrates in Weymouth on May 11.

The incident happened on the afternoon of Saturday, October 1 last year when staff at Castle Wines in Broad Street discovered cash missing from the till.

A member of the staff had been distracted by a medical emergency outside the shop, which was when the money disappeared.

The police were called and a description of a man was circulated via the Lyme Regis Radio-Link.

An extensive search of the area was conducted by police with the help of the LRTC Enforcement Officers and members of the Radio-Link. Using information from local witnesses, an alert went out across the country, searching national databases for matching suspects and an arrest was eventually made in Essex.

Lyme PC Jo Tearall said: “I have not worked in Lyme Regis that long but I am continuously impressed by the support from the local community.

“The use of the Radio-Link network was integral to this investigation and I would like to thank the members for their continued support.”