Two people arrested for thefts in St Albans district

A man and a woman have been arrested and charged with separate theft offences in the St Albans district this weekend.

Wanted Harry Ventham, age 35, of no fixed abode from the Luton area, was arrested on Friday (20 February) in Luton and charged with eight thefts from shops in Harpenden and Luton and one offence of going equipped. 

He was sentenced to 36 weeks’ imprisonment for theft offences in Herts and Beds at Luton Magistrates Court on Saturday (21 February). 

Plain clothed neighbourhood policing officers in Harpenden were working with Luton officers to find him at the weekend. 

He was charged with three counts of theft (chocolates and chewing gum) from the BP petrol station in Luton Road in Harpenden, on February 9, 11 and 19. 

He was also charged with five thefts from shops in Luton –the Shell garage (15 Feb), Tesco (13 Feb), River Island (16 Feb x 2) and an additional theft (10 Feb) and going equipped to steal on 21 Feb. 

He was sentenced to four weeks for each of the nine charges, giving him a total of 36 weeks’ imprisonment. 

Neighbourhood Sergeant Mark Essam said: “We worked closely with Beds police to track down Ventham, who was stealing in Harpenden and Luton. He stole from the BP petrol station in Harpenden three times in just 10 days. The judge took into account his previous offending and I’m pleased he will be behind bars for some time.”

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In a separate incident, Megan Messenger, aged 36, of no fixed abode from the London Colney area, appeared at Hatfield Remand Court on Saturday (21 February). 

She was charged with theft and breach of her Community Protection Notice (CPN) in St Albans after being arrested in London Road on Friday (20 February). 

She pleaded guilty to stealing meat from the Co-op on 12 February and 16 February; stealing a parcel from an address in Hart Road, St Albans on 12 February and breach of her Community Protection Notice (which prohibits her from entering the Co-op).

She is on conditional bail and will be sentenced at St Albans Magistrates Court on 16 April.