Nottinghamshire Police track down thief following incident at Newark’s Cash Converters on Cartergate

A tip-off from a member of the public inadvertently led to a phone thief being tracked down, Nottinghamshire Police have said.

Officers attended Church Walk, Newark, at around 11.45am on Tuesday (October 8) after a resident reported seeing someone who they believed had committed a criminal offence.

While no further action was taken on that incident, police recognised Christopher Jenkins-Coupe who was flagged up on the police system as being a suspect in a theft a week earlier on October 1 at Newark’s Cash Converters, in CarterGate.

Jenkins-Coupe walked into the store and took three phones from staff-only area behind the counter worth a combined £1,600, before leaving the store with the stolen items still in his possession.

The theft was discovered by staff members shortly afterwards, who then reported the incident to the police.

After being caught a week later, Jenkins-Coupe pleaded guilty to multiple counts of theft during an appearance at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (October 9).

Jenkins-Coupe, 36, of Sherwood Avenue, Newark, was made subject of a one-year community order, ordered to attend a six-month alcohol treatment requirement and complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Jenkins-Coupe was also ordered to pay £1,600 in compensation.

Sergeant James Skeats, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This provided a great example of the role the public can play in helping us respond to reports of crime.

“While we were initially called about an unrelated incident, that report inadvertently led to us locating Jenkins-Coupe, who stole three phones a week earlier.

“We’d ask anyone who has any concerns about potential criminality in their community to continue reporting it to the police by calling us on 101.

“We’re pleased to see Jenkins-Coupe has now owned up to what he did and that he has now been punished for his actions.”