Teen arrested after £17,000 worth of Apple iPhones shoplifted from Braehead

A teenager has been arrested and charged after more than £17,000 worth of Apple iPhones were shoplifted from Braehead shopping centre.

The 18-year-old woman was arrested on Friday, July 11, following “in-depth enquiries” by local police, supported by intelligence from the Retail Crime Taskforce.

The thefts are alleged to have taken place at the shopping centre in Renfrewshire on Sunday, June 1, and Wednesday, July 9.

The woman is due to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court on Thursday, October 2.

A 19-year-old man has also arrested and charged in connection with the offence on Sunday, June 1.

A 42-year-old woman has also been reported in connection with the incident on July 9.

Enquiries are continuing.

Detective inspector Emma Wright from the Retail Crime Taskforce said: “Both of these crimes resulted in valuable stock being stolen from the store and taskforce officers have been supporting enquiries by local officers over the last month, which resulted in enforcement activity.

“The taskforce was created for this very purpose – to provide local officers with enhanced resources and assistance for tackling retail crimes.

“We want to send a very clear message that no part of the country should be considered an easy target. We will provide our assistance wherever it is required and work alongside divisional colleagues to bring offenders to justice.”

Chief inspector Alex Marshall, local area commander for Renfrewshire, added: “Braehead is one of our area’s largest retail sites and the theft of thousands of pounds worth of goods has a huge impact on the overall confidence of the all the stores and their customers.

“We will continue to use all resources at our disposal, including the specialisms available with the Retail Crime Taskforce, to tackle this type of crime wherever it arises within Renfrewshire.”