THREE men spent their Valentines weekend in custody.

Two men were arrested in Billericay on Valentines Day, Friday February 14, on suspicion of theft.

The third was also arrested in Billericay on suspicon of possession of criminal property.

All three spent the weekend in police custody in Basildon.

A spokesman for Essex Police, said: "On February 14, officers were carrying out proactive patrols in the Billericay area when they came across two prolific shop lifters who had travelled to Billericay to commit theft.

"Both males were arrested, charged and remanded, spending Valentines weekend with us in Basildon custody.

"And if that wasn’t enough an additional proactive stop on the same evening located a male travelling through Billericay who was found to be in possession of a large quantity of money and criminal property, he has been charged and remanded, joining the two prolific shop lifters at our Basildon Custody before a court appearance on Monday."