Eagle–eyed shop assistant helps snare shoplifter

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard last Monday how Sarah Jane Osborne, 28, of Derby Road, Wirksworth, Matlock, stole a blood pressure monitor, hair serum and an eyeliner pencil.

targeted

Prosecuting solicitor Ian Shaw said: “These kind of items have been targeted by thieves in recent times. One of the staff takes an extra interest in the stock. She went for lunch and came back and saw one of the blood pressure monitors had disappeared and she checked and discovered it had not been sold.

“She viewed the CCTV and it showed Osborne taking the monitor and putting it in her bag and police were called.”

identified

Osborne was identified from the CCTV. She told police she had been asked to steal the items and had been paid £40 in return for handing them over. Osborne pleaded guilty to stealing the goods after the incident on September 10.

Bertie Mather, defending, said: “She lives at home with a three-year-old child and she struggles to cope on benefits and has to juggle various expenses. She has apologised.”

Magistrates fined Osborne £74 and ordered her to pay a £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs and £119.63 in compensation.