A SHOPLIFTER who had only been in the country for two weeks before attempting to steal alcohol worth around �560 has received a caution, it emerged today.

It has also transpired that his suspected accomplice – who was arrested after the theft at an Ipswich superstore but released without further action – had been in England for just 24 hours.

Police said the two Romanians were among three people detained following the theft of spirits from Sainsbury’s at Warren Heath. The third person was spoken to, but not arrested, according to a spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary.

Officers were called after a man was seen pushing a trolley-full of spirits out of the store, covered by food around 12.40pm on October 17. Other men are reported to have had alcohol concealed in bags.

It is understood some of the suspects left in a vehicle. Police said the three men were stopped by security staff.

The value was said to be somewhere between �550 and �560.

A 21-year-old man who is living in Hounslow, Middlesex, was cautioned after accepting he had been stealing the items. Another man, a 21-year-old of no fixed address, had no further action taken against him.

Officers were told he had arrived in England the previous day, while the man who received a caution had apparently told people he had entered the country two weeks earlier.

Chief Superintendent David Skevington said: “In cases involving minor offences, full prosecution, which would involve progression through the Criminal Justice System, may not be the most appropriate form of action.”