Police have reported an increase in shoplifting at Kenilworth's Sainsbury's.

A report presented by Kenilworth Safer Neighbourhood Team to the most recent Kenilworth Town Council meeting said the offences seem to be from the same group of people.

The report said one person is currently being investigated after dropping their bank card outside the Warwick Road shop.

"We are seeing a marked increase in shoplifting from the main supermarket in town, this is believed to be a group targeting the store for alcohol and are attending in the evening," the report presented last week said. 

"Local police will be patrolling in the evenings around that specific location to prevent further offences from taking place."

It added: "Seem[s] to be [the] same group of offenders targeting Sainsbury's in the evening over the past 10 days and stealing alcohol. 

"After a struggle one offender has dropped their bank card and is being investigated."

The report comes after Warwickshire Police was forced to defend itself against allegations it does not take shoplifting seriously.

The force was accused by independent businesses in the north of the county of not doing enough to investigate crimes.

"We have put dedicated resources into the town centre to address the concerns of all business owners," Inspector Kris Shore said in a statement.

"We have had a number of positive interactions with businesses and an increase in detections where criminal offences have been reported.

"The shop owners have been actively encouraged to report all crimes so that police can appropriately investigate."