Serial shoplifter who stole hundreds of pounds' worth of items banned from stores

A serial shoplifter has been banned from Co-op stores across Kent for stealing hundreds of pounds' worth of items.

Shannon Rossiter was charged with five counts of theft committed over two months after she entered shops, filled baskets up with products and walked straight out without making an attempt to pay.

CCTV footage showed Rossiter entering a Co-op in Sturry, northeast of Canterbury, on 14 October last year, holding a phone to her ear while grabbing various cleaning products and cans of alcohol and tossing them into a basket.

A staff member became suspicious of her behaviour and watched her head toward the exit without paying for the items worth £88.

They quickly closed the doors to prevent her from leaving, but when staff members tried to recover the stolen items, Rossiter became violent and assaulted two employees before fleeing.

Rossiter began her shoplifting spree on 15 September, when she stole four sandwiches worth £13 from Tesco in Sturry before targeting the local Co-op.

On 2 November, she took alcoholic drinks worth £11.80 from a Co‑op in Whitstable, then returned the next day and stole more food and drink worth £15.35.

Over a month after the violent incident caught on Co-op CCTV cameras, she stole four gift sets valued at £222 from Boots in Canterbury on 16 November.

Officers found her shortly afterwards in a Waitrose car park, and recovered one gift set from her and three more hidden nearby.

She was arrested at the scene, and officers discovered that she was wanted in connection with multiple thefts across Canterbury.

Rossiter was remanded in custody and appeared at Margate Magistrates’ Court on 18 November, where she pleaded guilty to all charges.

She was handed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), which bans her from any shop owned, run or managed by Co‑Operative Retail Services Ltd within Kent, at Folkestone Magistrates' Court earlier on 2 April.

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Rossiter is also banned from entering any shop in the company of several named individuals.

Kent Police's Canterbury Inspector Daniel Fordom said: "Whilst Rossiter did not receive a custodial sentence, the detailed accounts provided by staff and the evidence gathered by officers were crucial in securing this long-term CBO.

"It sends a clear message that sustained and violent shoplifting will not be tolerated, and we will continue to work closely with retailers and the court system to secure more orders like this one."

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