Two men and a woman have been arrested after hundreds of pounds worth of groceries were stolen from supermarkets.

Police say they are clamping down on shoplifting and have already made 52 arrests and almost 30 charges so far this year.

There had been reports that M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Iceland in Maidstone were being targeted.

Darren Turpin was arrested on Monday (February 5) and charged with two counts of theft, relating to offences at Iceland in The Mall during the previous three days.

He appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court the following day, where he also faced charges of assault, breaching a criminal behaviour order and attempted criminal damage.

Turpin, 55, of Marsham Street, Maidstone, was remanded in custody until a hearing at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court next Tuesday (February 13).

In another case this week, officers from the local neighbourhood task force arrested Sharna Steady.

On Tuesday (February 6), the 33-year-old pleaded guilty at Medway Magistrates’ Court to three counts of theft after she stole more than £300 of chocolate and other confectionery items.

The offences happened on Wednesday, January 3 at Sainsbury's Local in Tonbridge Road and on two occasions at Tesco Express in Loose Road on Tuesday, January 9.

Steady, of Mangravet Avenue, Maidstone, was bailed until sentencing at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday, February 27.

Police have also been tracking down offenders in other areas of Kent, as well as outside the county.

On Tuesday (February 6), a known shoplifter who is suspected to be responsible for several offences in Maidstone was tracked to Cliffsend in Ramsgate, where he was arrested after being found asleep in a van.

The 36-year-old, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, is being investigated for three thefts in January, when the M&S store in Eclipse Park was targeted.

He is currently on bail until Thursday, May 2 pending further enquiries.

Ch Insp Mark McLellan said: “We remain committed to protecting businesses in Maidstone from those who see them as easy pickings.

“Along with plain clothes officers who blend in with the crowds, we use visible targeted patrols in order to gain valuable intelligence and identify potential offenders.

“So far this year, we have already arrested 52 suspects and successfully brought almost 30 charges.

“Shoplifting is never a victimless crime and the arrests and charges we are continuing to make hopefully demonstrate it is simply not something we are willing to tolerate.”