Booted Out! Square Mile And National Shop Ban For Thief

A prolific shoplifter, who stole around £4,000 worth of beauty products in the City of London, has been banned from every Boots store in England and Wales.

Michael Hayes, 35, pleaded guilty to ten counts of theft from Boots on Moorgate and received twenty-two weeks imprisonment.

He was also handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), banning him from entering the Square Mile for three years, plus the Boots store ban.

Sergeant James Wood, of the Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team at the City of London Police, said: “We never view shop theft as a low-level crime, we understand the significant negative impact it has on businesses, employees and customers.

“The Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team are committed to doing everything we can to catch criminals, ensuring people who live, work or visit the City are safe and feel safe, and offenders are brought before the courts.

“Haye’s CBO will prevent him from further criminality and help protect businesses and members of the public. 

“If he breaks the terms of the CBO, he could face further jail time.”

Hayes first struck Boots on May 7, stealing 15 tubes of joint and back relief gel, worth £173.

Hayes went back to the same store the next day on May 8, stealing around £792 worth of products, including razor blade cartridges and skincare products.

During his shoplifting spree between May 7 and June 25, Hayes stole beauty and skincare products worth a total of approximately £4,000.