POLICE officers in Redditch have returned property stolen from town retailers after a shoplifting gang was caught.

Sergeant David Roberts and PC Mike Moore of the Redditch Safer Neighbourhood Team returned the goods to staff at Boots in the Kingfisher Centre after the successful partnership work.

Four people were arrested and last week pleaded guilty to charges of theft from a shop after hundreds of items worth thousands of pounds were taken over several weeks.

Sunita Buzatu, aged 37, of Signet Square, Coventry, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft from a shop on April 13.

Alexandru Patru, aged 19, of Signet Square, Coventry, and Matrix Sulejmanovic, aged 19, of Signet Square, Coventry, both admitted to two counts of theft – and Ionel Vilceanu, aged 44, of Signet Square, Coventry, pled guilty to four counts of theft from a shop.

All were bailed to an address on Bell Green Road, Coventry, with conditions including not to enter Worcestershire, while pre-sentence reports are prepared ahead of a hearing at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court on May 13.

Sergeant David Roberts, of Redditch Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT), said: “This is a great example of partnership work between the police, retailers and the Kingfisher Centre staff which led to the apprehension of this shoplifting gang.

“We will continue to work together to reduce the impact of shop theft on stores for both staff and customers.”