An elderly woman has been accused of brazenly stealing a £78 vintage ceramic bowl from an antiques store in Cheshire, in an incident captured on security cameras.
The Alleged Theft in Frodsham
CCTV footage from Buster Antique Sellers in Frodsham shows the suspected thief visiting the shop on November 5. On that initial visit, she is seen carefully examining a green and white Spode bowl before placing it back on the shelf.
However, the store claims she returned three days later, on November 8, armed with a large 'bag-for-life'. The footage allegedly shows her taking the prized bowl and concealing it inside the yellow bag before leaving the premises without making any payment.
Shop Goes Public on Social Media
The store chose not to report the matter to the police but instead posted the CCTV images on social media to alert other dealers. "This sweet old dear came into our shop on November 5 and scoped it out and then came back on November 8 and stole a £78 bowl," one post read.
Another stated: "This lovely person decided she really loves our Spode bowl but unfortunately she did not want to pay for it." The post urged others to share the images, adding: "Please share away fellow dealers and let's make her famous."
The reaction online was one of shock and condemnation, with many users stressing that age should not excuse the behaviour. Comments included: "A thief is a thief no matter their age," and "The brass neck of it. She wasn't even devious and brazenly put it in a bag."
Part of a Wider National Trend
This alleged theft occurs against a backdrop of soaring shoplifting rates across the UK. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics indicate retail crime surged by 13 per cent in the first year of Sir Keir Starmer's government.
Notably, police are reporting an increase in thefts by individuals who are not stealing out of necessity. Cambridgeshire Constabulary recently released footage of a mother-daughter pair suspected of stealing from a John Lewis store in Cambridge after a 90-minute shopping session.
PC Emily-Jayne Matthews, who runs a 'Wanted Wednesdays' Facebook campaign, stated that a significant portion of thefts in Cambridge are committed by older, middle-class individuals with homes and jobs. "These aren't people stealing out of necessity," she told ITV News Anglia. "They're people in professional jobs, taking high-end items like clothing and perfume, simply for the thrill."
She noted that the threat of public exposure on social media is often a powerful deterrent, with many suspects turning themselves in to avoid embarrassment.
