Shoplifting is causing problems in Sandwich – but police are tackling the problem.

Speaking at the town council meeting on Monday, PCSO Doreen Lee gave a report of all the crimes in the area over the past few weeks.

PCSO Lee explained that there were 137 calls in the area, which includes Sandwich, Woodnesborough and Worth, between April 1 and April 30 and two of these were for nuisance youths – both of which were unrelated.

There were also three cases of shoplifting youths and two of these were caught and arrested.

She said: “We’ve had a few incidents of shoplifting recently. Two out of three have been arrested and caught by myself and PCSO Ian Norton. I’d like to say we’ve done a good job there.”

Cllr John Scollard explained he had seen police detain a young person on the Rope Walk and asked if this was related.

PCSO Lee said: “We had to chase a youth out of the shop and to Rope Walk where we detained him. That was the same case.”

The Mayor of Sandwich, Cllr Bernard Butcher, also asked the PCSO why police had not informed him of a burglary in St George’s Road which apparently occurred within the last two weeks.

PCSO Lee said she wasn’t aware of this but explained there was a burglary on the same road on March 19.

She added: “We can make sure that those that need to be informed will get a call and I would also say make sure everyone is vigilant with their properties.”