A man has been jailed for two years after he stole items worth more than £24,000 from Boots stores in Andover, Aldershot and Fareham.

Ionel Elvis Dulea, 47, of Stephenson Street, Gateshead, stole the items between March and August this year.

Officers launched an investigation and charged Dulea with eight counts of theft from a shop and one count of attempted theft.

It comes after officers received reports that:

• Skincare products worth £1,242.34 were stolen from Boots in Aldershot on 10/08
• Skincare products worth £2,673.62 were stolen from Boots in Aldershot on 06/08
• Skincare products worth £2,099.29 were stolen from Boots in Andover on 06/08
• Skincare products and perfume bottles worth £10,790 were stolen from Boots in Fareham on 20/07
• Items worth £1,795.28 were stolen from Boots in Fareham on 16/06
• Skincare and cosmetic products worth £3,898 were stolen from Boots in Andover on 10/06
• Cosmetic products worth £887.77 were stolen from Boots in Fareham on 19/05
• Skincare and smoking products worth £814.54 were stolen from the Boots in Andover on 01/03
• There was an attempted theft of cosmetic products worth £815.54 from Boots in Andover on 01/03

The items stolen were worth a combined total of £24,200.84

Dulea pleaded guilty to all offences and was jailed for two years at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday 31 October.

A/PS Devon Smith, from the Test Valley Priority Crime Team, said: “Dulea’s brazen shoplifting affected a number of stores, shop workers and members of the community across a large part of Hampshire.

“Our message is clear – shoplifting in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will not be tolerated.

“This sentencing should send a clear message to others who are thinking about stealing from the businesses in our area.

“It will not be tolerated and we will work hard to bring you before the courts, where you will face the consequences.”

If you are a shop owner or staff member, please continue to report any shopliftings to us.

With your information, we can take action, including arresting and charging suspects and convicting offenders at court.

You can do this by calling 101, or by reporting online via the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website.

You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.