Published at 09:52, Friday, 03 September 2010

SEVEN people have been arrested as part of a crackdown on retail thefts in Workington.

Mealsgate couple Gary and Amanda Faunch, both 40, have been charged and convicted of the thefts.

Five other people are being questioned by police.

They appeared at Keswick and West Allerdale Magistrates’ Court on August 25.

Gary Faunch was sent to prison for 180 and given an anti-social behaviour order until August 25, 2015 banning him from entering shops that are part of the Shop Watch exclusion scheme in Workington, Cockermouth, Maryport and Whitehaven.

He was also banned from areas defined by the black line in Carlisle.

Amanda Faunch was given a 12-month supervision order, 80 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £156 costs.

Police launched Operation Buffalo after noting an increase in thefts in Workington.

Closed circuit television was used to target offenders.

Alcohol, jewellery and food was recovered from a number of searches carried out by the police.

PC Heather Jones, of Workington police, said: “In Workington we have seen a small increase in the number of thefts over the last few months, so we launched this operation to tackle the issue."

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk