Police discover haul of over 200 stolen Brita water filters in Peterborough thief's car and home
A man who repeatedly stole water filters from branches of Morrisons in Peterborough and St Ives has been jailed.
Cambridgeshire Police said Tony Isaac, 67, began by going to the branch in Needingworth Road, St Ives, on 5 December “where he concealed three Brita filters in a black shopping bag”.
A force spokesperson went on: “He went to the checkouts and paid for other items but left without purchasing the filters. Isaac returned to the shop to steal more filters on five occasions between the first incident and 10 January.
“He also went to Morrisons, in Lincoln Road, Walton, Peterborough, on 26 December and 5 January where he used the same tactic to steal the products.
“When officers arrested Issac at his home in Yaxley, on Saturday (17 January), they discovered roughly 200 filters worth thousands of pounds in his property and car.”
Isaac admitted seven counts of theft from a shop and was on Monday (19 January) jailed for 24 weeks at Peterborough Magistrates' Court.
PC Charlie Brett commented: “The number of filters found at Isaacs home and car demonstrated the scale of the operation he was involved in. We believe he was stealing them in order to sell them online.
“His crimes were pre-planned and targeted. He knew exactly what he was going to steal and used a tactic he thought would mean he escaped justice.”