Charged

Swale Detectives have charged two men in connection with alleged distraction burglaries in the local area.

Police made two separate arrests after receiving reports that people had tricked their way into homes to steal items. The first arrest was made after officers responded to an incident in Foxley Road, Sittingbourne at around 2.35pm, on Friday 23rd October. Joseph Smith, aged 34, of Lucks Lane, Chart Sutton, was charged with two counts of burglary and an attempted burglary with intent to steal.

A man has been charged in connection with a fire at a farm on the Isle Of Sheppey.

David Staples, aged 44 and of Kingsnorth Road in Gillingham, was charged on Wednesday (10th September) with one count of arson in relation to a fire at a property in Plough Road, Eastchurch, on last Wednesday (3rd September) which destroyed 5 stables and 10 tonnes of hay.

He was also charged with five counts of possessing indecent images.

Two teenagers have been charged in connection with burglaries in Sittingbourne.

The pair - a 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy, both from Orpington - were arrested after officers, investigating a reported burglary at an address in Jacinth Drive, located a suspicious vehicle on the A249 at around 12.50am on Thursday 21st August.

Patrols stopped the vehicle on the M2 London-bound and arrested both boys.

Three men have been charged in connection with a number of burglaries in the Sittingbourne area.

Benjamin Samuels (32) and Alan Looker (33) both of Milbourne Grove, Sittingbourne have been charged with four counts of burglary. Additionally Sydney Samuels (37) also of Milbourne Grove, Sittingbourne has been charged with five counts of burglary.

The men were all charged yesterday (Monday 24th March) and were remanded in police custody overnight. They are due to appear before Medway Magistrates Court via virtual video later today.

Two men have been charged in connection with an attempted burglary at a Sittingbourne newsagent over the Christmas holiday period.

Kent Police were called at 1.15am on Monday 30th December after an alarm was triggered at Lakeside News in Todd Crescent, Church Milton. Allegedly two men were seen attempting to gain entry to the rear of the store. Patrols attended within minutes of taking the call and arrested two men. A search of the shop revealed damage to the alarm system but no entry had been gained.

Two men have been charged in connection with a rape in Sittingbourne in the early hours of Sunday (14th July) morning.

Kent Police have confirmed that they were called at just before 3.40am on Sunday to reports of a rape of a 36-year-old local woman in Dover Street.

Maksim Volkon, aged 32 and of Merleburgh Drive and Vitalijs Alehovics, aged 26, of Periwinkle Close, both in Sittingbourne, have been jointly charged with rape.

A 28-year-old man is set to face magistrates next month after having been charged for a robbery that was reported nearly three years ago.

Kent Police were called on Sunday 4th July 2010 to reports of a robbery on Park Road in Sittingbourne. The victim was believed to have been threatened with an extendable baton unless he handed over his wallet.

Matthew Coward of Berners Street in Norwich was arrested on 12th November last year and has been charged with robbery.

He is due to appear at Maidstone Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 29th May.