Officers targeting shoplifting and retail crime in the Shirley area have charged two men in connection with a number of offences in the area.

Yesterday afternoon (Thursday 25 April) officers on proactive patrol on Park Road spotted a man running from the One Stop store with several bottles of wine. It was confirmed with shop staff that the wine was stolen and he was arrested.

Albert Alexander Phillips, 29, of Millbrook Road West has now been charged with two counts of theft from a shop in connection with this incident and another at the same store on Monday 15 April. On this occasion wine worth £26 was taken.

Shane Lyle Bartlett, 36, of Millbrook Road West, has been charged with five counts of theft from a shop in connection with incidents at Asda on Millbrook Road West and Co-op on Shirley Road, all of which took place between March 24 and April 6. In total, more than £160 worth of food, confectionary and alcohol was taken.

Both are due to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on May 30.