Woman used child young as eight to shoplift in 'despicable' crime
POLICE are hunting a woman who they say used a child as young as eight to shoplift for her.
Officers have described it as a “despicable” offence and urged anyone who recognises the woman to get in touch with police.
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The pair were caught on security CCTV cameras at Tesco’s Transit Way store in Honicknowle.
Investigating officer PC Daniel Pen-Collings said the woman was seen to remove the security tag from a £50 portable DVD player and replace it on the shelf.
He said she then told the girl to pick it up and walk out of the store without paying.
The girl even took a £15 protective case for the player, say police.
PC Paul Coppola of Crownhill police said: “It is despicable to use a child in this way.
“It is unusual, but I have known it happen before when I worked in the city centre ten years ago.
“If caught, the woman would be prosecuted, but if the child is as young as she appears, she is under the age of criminal responsibility, which is ten.”
He added: “In that case, she would be referred to social services.”
The woman is described as being in her mid-30s, of medium build and with light hair, tied back.
She was wearing tight grey tracksuit bottoms and a grey vest top.
The girl is aged about eight, of large build and with mousy hair.
She was wearing grey bottoms and a cardigan.
The incident happened at 1.35pm on June 3 but CCTV images have only just been released to The Herald.
Anyone who can identify the woman is asked to phone PC Pen-Collings on 08452 777444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, quoting crime reference EL/10/2531.
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by Aerodog, USA
Sunday, July 18 2010, 8:59PM
“In the USA Hillary Clinton told us "It takes a village" to raise children, but I think that was because she and her ilk helped to destroy "the family" unit. People like this mother have always existed on the fringes of society, but until relatively recently (viz-NuLabour) society 'culled the herd', either executing or exporting these genes elsewhere. As long as you are willing to mollycoddle such people to the benefit of Liberal politicians you are going to reap the societal 'benefits'.
In my own country, 70% of ALL Black children are born out of wedlock to single mothers - 70%!!!! Yet you will NEVER hear our ostensibly Black President or any other mainstream Black 'spokesperson' deal with this deterioration of Black society that THEY have helped to cause through their support of everything that helped to tear down Black family values.”
by Louise, Plymouth
Friday, July 16 2010, 7:14PM
“Blame the parents!! or possibly in this case the grandparents! Scum families have always been around and will keep breeding. It is just getting worse because nothing gets done about it!”
by Swift, Ham
Friday, July 16 2010, 5:08PM
“Hand on heart who can say they've never thought of it themselves?”
by C, Plymouth
Friday, July 16 2010, 3:58PM
“Aborting filthy 18 year old yobs will require a firing squad Boris. Perhaps they could become human shields in Iraq?”
by Ally, St Judes
Friday, July 16 2010, 3:46PM
“I think people slighty missed Boris' point ;)”