Latest news with #shoplifting
Yahoo
an hour ago
- General
- Yahoo
Two arrested after brazen Safeway medicine theft
(KRON) – Authorities found a U-Haul van loaded with shoplifted merchandise and drugs, according to the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department. LGMSPD officer responded to a Safeway on North Santa Cruz Avenue for the report of two grand thefts. Officers were informed that on May 21, two men and a woman stole medicine and first aid equipment. Three days later, the same trio stole the same items. Police were told that the male suspects stuffed the stolen merchandise in luggage, and the woman put the items in her purse. The suspects then fled in a U-Haul van. The suspects reportedly stole more than $2,000 worth of shoplifted items. 37 arrested in SF retail theft operations; ice cream, candy among items recovered Around 8:50 on Thursday, the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno PD was informed by a Flock notification that the U-Haul van was near downtown. Responding officers located two of of three suspects in the U-Haul. The male suspect was identified as a 30-year-old San Jose resident who was under the influence of narcotics, police said. He also provided offices with a false name initially and had warrants. The female suspect was also a San Jose resident. Police said he was carrying drugs and drug paraphernalia. In searching the U-Haul, officers found the shoplifted items from Safeway, a journal containing numerous gift card numbers, a forged check, a stolen wallet and purse, a wig worn by the female suspect in the prior theft and more, according to police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
19 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Public safety program to crackdown on non-violent crime
Vancouver Watch B.C. has launched a $5-million public safety program to reduce robbery, shoplifting and other non-violent street crime - but is it enough?
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Woman who calls herself ‘UK's poshest thief' fined for stealing Le Creuset cookware
A former criminology lecturer who calls herself the 'UK's poshest thief' has been fined for stealing more than £1,000 worth of Le Creuset cookware, steaks, wine and gin. Pauline Al Said and her husband, Mark Wheatcroft, have been fined £2,500 between them after the thefts from a garden centre and a branch of Marks & Spencer. Sentencing the couple, the judge, Keith Cutler, said shoplifters walking out of supermarkets with 'full trolley loads' was becoming more common and the public were calling for 'appropriate' sentences. He imposed the financial penalty after concluding Al Said would not comply with community service. The 35-year-old former senior criminology lecturer at Bath Spa University calls herself the 'UK's poshest thief' on her X account. She was found guilty of two counts of theft and Wheatcroft was convicted of one count of theft and one assault. Representing themselves, the couple, from Southsea in Hampshire, told Portsmouth crown court their actions were on the 'lower end'. A jury heard that the first theft took place at Old Barn garden centre in Horsham, West Sussex. Laura Duff, prosecuting, said John Dunkling, a security officer, saw Al Said walking toward the shop's exit with two bags without paying. On her way out, Al Said was stopped by another member of staff. One of her bags contained spirits including gin and spiced rum. The second bag contained more alcohol, Le Creuset cookware and a Le Creuset condiment set. The couple were asked to go back into the store and Wheatcroft threatened to punch Dunkling, the court heard. He then 'made contact' with the Dunkling's back. Al Said used a security tag remover to snip off and discard tags around the store, the court heard. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The second incident took place at Marks & Spencer store in Winchester when an undercover security professional spotted Al Said loading meat into a trolley. She had more than 30 steaks and nine bottles of wine. Al Said was fined £750 for each theft offence and Wheatcroft was ordered to pay £750 for the charge of shoplifting and £250 for the assault.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Criminology lecturer who boasts she is 'UK's poshest thief' avoids jail despite stealing Le Creuset cookware, premium steaks, wine, and boutique gin in M&S and garden centre sprees
An ex-criminology lecturer who styles herself as the 'UK's poshest thief' has avoided prison after four-figure theft sprees which included stealing Le Creuset cookware. Upmarket thieves Pauline Al Said and her husband Mark Wheatcroft also seized premium steaks, wine and boutique gin. They have now been fined £2,500 between them for the daylight raids on a garden centre and a branch of Marks and Spencer. Prosecutors did not appear in court ahead of the punishments being handed down. The judge ruling on their fate described how shoplifters walking out of supermarkets with 'full trolley loads' was becoming 'more and more common' with the public calling for 'appropriate sentences'. However, he decided against a custodial sentence and decided to impose a financial penalty after concluding Al Said, 35, would not comply with community service. Since being convicted of the crimes last year, the former senior criminology lecturer at Bath Spa University has nicknamed herself the 'UK's poshest thief' on her biography on X, previously Twitter. A court heard how the pair had visited a garden centre, armed with a de-tagging device, before trying to steal high-value spirits and cast iron utensils. The couple, seen here outside Winchester Crown Court, have now been fined £2,500 between them for daylight raids on a garden centre and a branch of Marks and Spencer When they were asked to come back into the store by a shop detective, who had seen them leave without paying on CCTV, Wheatcroft, 56, 'struck' the employee. Almost a year later Al Said was again caught shoplifting, this time from a branch of Marks and Spencer where she had piled 33 thick-cut sirloin, rib eye and fillet steaks into her trolley. She also had several bottles of red and white wine when she was spotted by undercover security guards. The two thefts were valued at £581.48 and £570.42, respectively. The pair have now been sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court after Al Said was found guilty of two counts of theft and Wheatcroft was convicted of one count of theft and one count of assault following last year's trial. Representing themselves, the couple from Southsea in Hampshire claimed their actions were on the 'lower end' when it came to harm. Sentencing, Judge Keith Cutler said: 'There has been some planning and a threat of use of force. 'I am satisfied this is not a case for a community order for Wheatcroft. I am satisfied it is not a case for Al Said to have a community order - I would not see her complying with unpaid work. 'The best way of dealing with it is by a financial penalty.' He described the garden centre raid as a 'serious theft', adding: 'Wholesale walking out from a shop with a trolley load of items is becoming more and more common. 'The public have called for courts to impose appropriate sentences.' Prosecution lawyers did not attend the sentencing hearing, and it emerged the couple will not have to pay towards the costs of their three-week trial at Salisbury Crown Court in Wiltshire last July. Criticising the prosecution, Judge Cutler has now said: 'Wheatcroft and Al Said have turned up but no one from the prosecution has attended. 'There is no summary from the prosecution - the prosecution have simply washed their hands of this case for reasons I do not understand or accept.' A jury heard last year that the first theft took place at Old Barn Nurseries in Horsham, West Sussex, on December 14 2021. Laura Duff, prosecuting, said loss prevention officer John Dunkling 'became aware' of a female shopper pushing a trolley around. Mr Dunkling looked at the store's CCTV and saw Al Said walking toward the shop's exit with the two bags, without paying. On her way out of the store, Al Said was stopped by another member of staff who found the shopping bags contained £400-worth of high-value spirits including Mermaid brand gin and spiced rum. The second bag contained more bottles of alcohol, Le Creuset cookware and a Le Creuset condiment set. Le Creuset is a popular French-Belgian maker of high-end cast iron cookware. The couple were asked to go back into the store and it was at this point that Wheatcroft became 'verbally aggressive' and threatened to punch Mr Dunkling, it was heard - before Wheatcroft then 'made contact with his back'. It was heard that Al Said was armed with a security tag remover which she had used to snip off and discard tags around the store. The second incident took place on September 30 2022, with Ms Duff telling how Al Said was seen walking around a Marks and Spencer store in Winchester, Hampshire. An undercover security detective spotted her loading 'packets of meat' into a trolley. Al Said tried to run away outside the outlet after security followed her but another guard 'prevented further escape', before the freezer bags in her trolley were shown to contain 33 steaks. Also in her possession were six bottles of red wine and three bottles of white wine, with investigators finding she stole M&S products worth a total ££570.42. Al Said was fined £750 for each theft offence and Wheatcroft was ordered to pay £750 for the charge of shoplifting and £250 for the assault. The couple were told they could each be sentenced to 45 days in prison if they fail to pay the penalties by December 1 this year.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘They cry': Sex shop owner exacts revenge on thieves
A Bundaberg shop owner fed up with sticky-fingered customers has come up with his own genius way to exact justice. Dave Kidd is running a second-generation family business handed down to him from his mother — a sex toy shop called Into Love. It has been plagued by looting with customers stealing everything from blow up dolls to empty DVD cases, according to A Current Affair. Frustrated and unable to bear the cost of the lost revenue, Mr Kidd decided to take matters into his own hands and began outing the thieves on social media. 'Theft happens in every store, but when they steal from our store, it's a bit funnier because of what they're pinching,' he said. He circulates footage of the shoplifters on Facebook with a plea to help identify the culprits – a technique which has proved surprisingly effective. 'I don't think you'd want to be named and shamed for taking an adult toy,' one of Mr Kidd's employees told ACA. 'They come in here very upset, very embarrassed, and don't want family members to see it. Sometimes they'll cry and say, 'please take it down'.' Mr Kidd is happy to remove the offending content from Facebook, but only after the customer had paid for the item they stole. One post on the Facebook page from May 1 reads: 'Well here we are once again! We are asking for the amazing assistance from our wonderful Bundaberg customers and our future customers!' it reads. 'I guess this charming lady forgot that you can't walk out the door, with a $200 product in her bag, without passing the front desk to pay for it! 'It is against the law to steal. We do have signs at the front door, we will post it on Facebook and we will press charges. 'Want this embarrassing footage taken down? Then by all means pop on down to the big purple building and we will happily process your payment, and then we can take this down! 'We have cameras, they do work, and we will always make sure a small family run business can stay in business by making sure customers can afford to pay for items. If you don't have the cash, we do lay-bys. 'We will offer the first correct ID caller (or private message) 20% off any item in the shop. Want to stay anonymous? No issues at all. 'We have so many amazing loyal customers, and because of you this business wants to say a massive thank you for shopping honestly. 'Who recognises this charming lady? We will have more footage in the comments!' Dave said thievery had always been a problem but after reportedly losing $20,000 to the thieves he decided enough was enough. 'The thefts were coming in hot and heavy and I just couldn't afford the loss so I thought 'how do I combat this?''
