A prolific thief has been imprisoned and prohibited from wearing wigs whilst shopping as part of a Criminal Behaviour Order following a theft spree across Hampshire.
Rachael Cole, aged 44, received a 36-week jail term at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on Friday 5 December after pleading guilty to four theft charges. The Whitehill resident was also issued with a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order imposing strict restrictions on her shopping conduct.
The court heard Cole stole merchandise valued at £964 from retail outlets in Hook and Liphook during a three-week period between 10 November and 1 December. In one incident, she disguised herself with a wig whilst stealing seven bags of dog food from Sainsbury’s in Liphook.
Cole’s Criminal Behaviour Order prohibits her from wearing any wig, hairpiece or face covering designed to conceal her identity when entering retail premises. She is additionally barred from all Sainsbury’s and Tesco locations nationwide, alongside the B&M store in Bordon.
Further conditions require Cole to place items exclusively in baskets or trolleys whilst shopping, present proof of payment methods upon request by staff, police or wardens, and provide receipts when asked. Should she be requested to leave any Hampshire or Surrey shop, she must comply immediately without abusive behaviour and cannot return that day.
East Hampshire Inspector Matt Wake commented: “Cole persistently and audaciously targets local retailers, even attempting crude disguises to evade detection. Following her sentence, extremely stringent conditions will govern her conduct. Breaching these conditions will result in immediate arrest and further court proceedings.
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“When shoplifting is reported, we prioritise identifying and apprehending offenders, utilising measures such as Criminal Behaviour Orders to prevent repeat offences. Theft often stems from various circumstances, including addiction, and we collaborate with support services to address underlying causes.
“We encourage residents to continue reporting anti-social behaviour and business crime, enabling us to work with partners in tackling these issues effectively.”
