A teenager is due to appear in court charged with more than 20 alleged shoplifting incidents including several at a town's Co-op.

The 15-year-old boy is accused of pilfering Whitstable businesses 24 times with the Co-op in Oxford Street being a favourite target, police said.

Police had been investigating a series of thefts from shops in the town between September and October last year.

Following inquiries, Canterbury’s victim-based crime team identified a local teen and he was charged with the offences.

A police spokesman said: “A shoplifting suspect is due before court after being charged with 24 offences of theft in Whitstable following work by our Victim-Based Crime Team.

“We will continue to work to protect businesses by bringing those who target them to justice.”

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been bailed but will appear before Folkestone Youth Court in March.