Two former employees of The Range store in Salisbury have been caught after a nine-month theft spree, stealing goods valued at around £8,000.
Liam Snook, 34, a sales manager from Blackfriars Way, and Sarah Brooks, 34, a shop assistant from Coronation Road, orchestrated their thefts between May 2023 and January 2024. The pair planned their crimes mainly on days when they shared car journeys to work, targeting the store regularly every Monday and Thursday.
They exploited store policies by waiting until other staff had left, then sneaking back inside to steal under the cover of darkness. Their actions breached strict rules that forbid employees from locking up alone or re-entering the premises after closing time.
The scam was uncovered thanks to a vigilant new staff member who noticed unusual closing routines. On January 29, 2024, The Range’s area loss prevention manager caught Snook and Brooks in the act. Both were suspended immediately, and some of the stolen goods’ value was recovered through pay deductions.
Sentencing details are as follows:
Liam Snook received a nine-month suspended prison sentence, 150 hours of unpaid work, 15 rehabilitation days, £2,866 in compensation, and £272 in court costs.
Sarah Brooks was given a community order, 167 hours of unpaid work, £2,866 in compensation, and £199 in court costs.
Local Crime Investigator Ange Dowsett commented, “This was a calculated, high-value series of thefts during which Snook and Brooks abused their trusted positions as employees to steal thousands of pounds worth of goods. Their criminality was motivated, lengthy, and without remorse. CCTV footage captured their jubilant, planned mood while committing the crimes. Thanks to the reporting employee’s diligence, justice was served.”
Wiltshire Police have urged all businesses to maintain strong security measures and report any suspicious behaviour. This case highlights the serious damage internal theft can cause and underlines the importance of employee vigilance in preventing losses.
Originally published by UKNIP.
