Gang of women shoplifters raid city’s Primark
A GANG of women shoplifters tried to steal more than £1,000 worth of items from Primark’s flagship Birmingham store using a suitcase and lift trick, a court heard.
Security officers spotted the women acting suspiciously and lay in wait at the High Street entrance causing them to split up and try to escape out of the Moor Street exit. But they were all stopped, Birmingham Crown Court was told.
One member of the group, Bianca Tudor, was ultimately charged with theft from a shop which she admitted via a Romanian interpreter at Birmingham
Magistrates’ Court.
Tudor, 21, of Markby Road, Winson Green, was fined £350 and told to pay £185 costs and a £35 victim surcharge.
The group targeted Primark around 4.40pm on Wednesday, March 30 this year.
Prosecutor Shivali Patel said: “Security officers watched four females on CCTV enter the store and act suspiciously. Two of them picked up two suitcases. They also filled shopping bags with clothing items.
“All four females entered a lift with clothing items and security officers observed them putting the clothes into the suitcases. Two of the females left the lift on one floor of the store while the other two left on another floor. They left empty shopping bags in the lift. The stolen goods were valued at £1,018.”
Alex Atkins, defending, said Tudor had not gone to Primark intending to steal before her associate ‘suggested to her it would be easy to get away with it’. He added: “She has found coming to court a frightening experience and is frightened to come back. I don’t think you are likely to see her again.”