Kent Police

Swale Police officers are searching for a suspected runaway thief after being called to a report of two men travelling in a suspected stolen vehicle on Swale Way, Kemsley, at around about noon today (Wednesday 17th April).

A police spokesman told SFM News: "our officers located the van in stationary traffic and, as they approached it, two men are reported to have made off on foot."

It's believed that following a search of the local area a 17-year-old boy from the Sittingbourne area was arrested on suspicion of theft and remains in police custody.

Kent Police detectives are appealing for witnesses after a handbag was reported stolen during a robbery in Sittingbourne at the weekend.

The incident is reported to have taken place in Pembury Street shortly after 9pm on Sunday (17th March).

Detective Constable Rob Feasey told SFM News: "The victim, a woman in her 40s, was by her parked car when a man asked her for the time and grabbed her handbag. During a short struggle she fell to the floor, suffering cuts to her knee, elbow and hands".

A distinctive tattoo on a burglar's hand has led to him being jailed for seven and a half years after he admitted threatening a woman with a knife in Sheerness.

Charlie Gannon, 21, of Valley Side, Chingford, was jailed on Friday (15th February) at Maidstone Crown Court after he admitted one count of aggravated burglary.

The judge heard how Gannon, along with three other men, targeted a house in Sheerness High Street at around 1.00pm on Sunday 7th October 2018.

The Kent Police Swale Local Policing Team 3 spent some time this morning (Monday 28th January) on the Great Easthall Estate following complaints by local residents and public transport users.

Great Easthall Way, between Freeman Drive and Oak Road, was targetted in response to drivers repeatedly contravening no entry signs and using a designated 'Bus Lane'.

19 traffic offence reports were issued, which carry a £100 fine and 3 points on the driving licence for each driver concerned.

A Sittingbourne man has been charged with theft after he was arrested by officers following a foot chase.

Shane Baker, 30, of Bluebell Drive in, Sittingbourne, has been charged with two counts of theft after being arrested on Thursday (17th January).

The charges relate to incidents on Monday 7th and Wednesday 16th January at a shop in Sittingbourne where, on both occasions, three bottles of alcohol were reported stolen.

Two cousins have received prison sentences following a violent disturbance at a private address near Stockbury earlier this year.

At 6.20am on Saturday 5th May, William Smith, aged 29, and 23-year-old Eli Smith, went to a static caravan in a yard off the A249 occupied by two men and two women who were known to them. They smashed the patio doors and started to cause damage inside the caravan, which was also destroyed by a fire during the incident. William Smith also drove a car into some parked Transit vans owned by the victims.

A charity has had a welcome financial boost following a Kent Police Fun Day earlier in the year here in Sittingbourne.

In September 2018 the Kent Police Recreation Association organised the family fun day which, due to 2018 being the centenary year of World War One, was themed throughout with activities including a trench experience and wartime victory live band. Two veterans from World War Two were also guests of honour at the event.

A violent offender who dragged his ex-girlfriend into the street by her hair has been jailed.

Luke Chawla, aged 25 and of Murston Road in Sittingbourne, also punched his victim repeatedly after letting himself into her house in Iwade following the end of their relationship.

He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to five years and four months' imprisonment when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday (15th November). Chawla must also serve a further three years on licence under the terms of an extended sentence.

Witnesses are being sought after a family were robbed in Sittingbourne in what officers believe may have been a case of mistaken identity.

The couple and their baby are reported to have been targeted at around 8.30pm in Balas Drive on Wednesday (7th November) evening.

Three men are alleged to have followed the victims home from a shopping trip and when they arrived at their house and began unloading their vehicle three men are reported to have got out of a car and threatened them.

A 53-year-old man has been remanded in custody following reports a man was threatened with a machete in Sittingbourne.

The incident, which caused no injuries, is reported to have taken place in Chalkwell Road on the evening of Friday 26th October.

Later that same night a machete is then reported to have been used to damage a car before a pick-up truck was driven into a further five parked vehicles.

James Thomas Hilden, who is of no fixed address, was arrested the following evening after being identified as a suspect.