A shoplifter has been charged and jailed within a week of police finding £500 worth of stolen men’s underwear in his car.

Two further arrests were also made as part of the investigation by Kent Police.

Neighbourhood officers were on duty on Sunday, June 1 as part of an operation to disrupt shoplifting in the Westwood area of Thanet.

Working with store security staff, police received a report that a group of people had been seen in a store and they were acting suspiciously.

Plain clothes officers attended and watched a man fill a bag with items before getting into a car.

The man was stopped by patrols and arrested after a search revealed he had more than £500 worth of men’s underwear in the back of the car. Officers also found black sacks in the vehicle containing clothing, some with tags still attached.

At the same time, officers also arrested two women on suspicion of shoplifting.

Properties were also searched, resulting in even more suspected stolen clothing being seized.

Lloyd Armstrong, 38 and of no fixed address, was charged the following day with shoplifting in relation to the theft, as well as an earlier theft on May 26.

He appeared at Margate Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 3 where he admitted the offences and it was confirmed he had breached a suspended sentence for previous offending. In total Armstrong was jailed for 18 weeks.

The women, aged 42 and 46, were released on bail pending further inquiries.

Inspector Richard Batten of Thanet Community Safety Unit said: “Local officers regularly work to support businesses against the scourge of shoplifting. We take theft seriously and will continue to run operations that disrupt and stop any would-be thieves from stealing.”