A man has been charged following the alleged theft of an iPhone 14 in the St Albans branch of Marks & Spencer.

Petru Anitei, 35, was taken into custody on Tuesday morning (June 6), near St Albans City train station on Victoria Street.

Prior to his arrest, a woman in her 40s had reported having her mobile phone stolen in M&S on St Peter's Street, at around 11am.

READ MORE

M&S staff then alerted the police and passed on a description of the suspect - through 'Shop Watch' - to CCTV operators from St Albans City and District Council.

The phone was returned to the woman an hour later.

The man was taken into custody on suspicion of theft from a person.

Petru Anitei - of Westfield Drive, Harrow - has since been charged, and is due to appear at St Albans Magistrates Court on July 11.

                                                                                            

Get more stories like this delivered to your inbox every week by signing up to our newsletter.

                                                                                            

The following advice has been issued by Hertfordshire Constabulary:

· Make sure you keep your phone and valuable items secure either in a zipped bag (with the zip facing you) or in a secure pocket.

· Be aware of your surroundings.

· Keep an eye out for elderly or vulnerable people.