Underwear theft:
Shoplifting pair empty Matalan undies section in two-hour spree
TWO shoplifters spent more than two hours in a clothes shop stealing male underwear and female nightwear while avoiding staff.
Anthony Quinn, 48, and Julie Bowers, 51, stole clothing valued at £1,500 from the Matalan store in Bangor.
Two weeks later they stole clothing worth £1,280 from a New Look store in Llandudno.
Both admitted theft and were each locked up for 32 months. Bowers, who was in breach of a suspended sentence, was ordered to serve that six-month jail term consecutively.
Angered by the length of the sentence, Bowers hurled abuse at the judge as she was led away to the cells.
Judge Huw Rees described both as “entirely dishonest people”. Referring to Quinn’s lengthy criminal record, he said he was a “prolific offender and a seasoned thief, adding: “Your previous record is evidence that you tour the country to steal.”
Bowers, the judge added, had made it her life’s work to commit shoplifting offences.
Ryan Rothwell, prosecuting at Caernarfon Crown Court, said Quinn and Bowers, both of no fixed address but formerly of Kirkby, Liverpool, had gone into the Matalan store during the early evening of June 20.
“Avoiding staff and seeking blind spots from CCTV cameras, they stole items of clothing and placed them in suitcases they had also stolen from the store. There were three full suitcases in all,” he said.
The thefts were discovered when the underwear and nightwear sections were found nearly empty.
Mr Rothwell added the pair had visited the store again on July 5 but fled when challenged by staff who recognised them.
The following day they were both seen in New Look, Llandudno, where they took clothing, including the hangers, from racks and placed them into two large plastic bags.
They left the store and made their way to a waiting car, but police were lying in wait and Quinn was arrested. Bowers attempted to flee but was quickly captured. Both refused to answer police questions but admitted the charges when they appeared at magistrates.