A PROLIFIC shoplifter stole £18,000 worth of goods targeting supermarkets across the West Midlands more than 500 times in six months.

Samad Ali has been jailed after he struck shops around Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton hundreds of times. 

The 26-year-old also hit shops in Staffordshire and West Mercia although the majority of the 40 stores he targeted were around Birmingham and the Black Country.

Ali often stole from a store multiple times during his crime spree between October 2022 and April last year.

On the last occasion, he was spotted by a security worker in Minworth who recognised him as a prime suspect for stealing from the supermarket previously.

The worker followed Ali to his car to try to stop him from driving off. But, Ali drove at the security worker and carried him some distance on the bonnet of his car before the man came off.

He was not seriously injured but the traumatic ordeal was witnessed by an off-duty officer.

West Midlands Police arrested Ali at his home and a baton was found at the address.

 Ali, of Lansdowne Road, Lozells, pleaded guilty to 64 counts of theft and asked for further 447 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

He also admitted dangerous driving, and possession of an offensive weapon, and was jailed for two years at Birmingham Crown Court last Wednesday (February 7).

 Pc Sohail Khan, from Birmingham CID, said: "Ali was a prolific thief who repeatedly took items from supermarkets across the region.

"Given the amount of offences I have absolutely no doubt he would have continued to steal had we not stopped him.

"He was not concerned about harming others and it's just fortunate the security worker was not more seriously hurt."