Bristol police seize £50,000 worth of alcohol and chocolate

Police seized the alcohol after high visibility patrols

Thousands of bottles of alcohol have been seized and a number of people arrested in a police shoplifting operation.

An estimated £50,000 worth of alcohol and confectionary were seized from a shop in Easton, Bristol, as stolen goods, Avon and Somerset Police said.

Two men, one in his 40s and one in his 50s, were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

Neighbourhood Inspector Tom Gent said shoplifting is not "victimless".

The two men have since been de-arrested and asked to attend a police interview.

The force said the items were seized on 25 January after acting on intelligence during high-visibility patrols targeting shoplifting.

The value of the stolen goods is estimated at around £50,000

During a patrol on 22 January, an officer spotted a woman in her 40s who was wanted for previous offences and arrested her.

She was charged with seven shoplifting offences and appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court the next day.

A man in his 40s was also stopped and arrested on Church Road, he has received a court summons.

'Information is critical'

Many of the bottles of alcohol and confectionary have been returned and officers are currently working to identify where the remainder were taken from.

Insp Gent said: "We don't underestimate the impact shoplifting can have. Shop staff should be able to feel safe in their workplace.

"These arrests - and this seizure - demonstrate our commitment to working with businesses and business groups.

"We encourage shop workers to report crime to us as this information is critical for our neighbourhood teams in identifying the people responsible."