Hannah Roberts: Prolific shoplifter banned from wearing wigs after Gloucester stealing spree

A prolific shoplifter has been banned from wearing wigs after she used them to disguise herself while stealing from stores in Gloucester, police have said.

Hannah Roberts, 33, had worn a variety of hairpieces after being banned from certain stores in Gloucester city centre.

Roberts, of Nettleton Road, had been forbidden from going into shops that were part of Gloucester’s City Safe Scheme but had repeatedly ignored the ban.

As well as reportedly becoming abusive or running off with stolen goods if challenged by staff, she had also worn wigs to disguise herself, Gloucestershire Constabulary said.

But she has a large and distinctive tattoo on her neck that makes her easy to recognise.

Earlier this month, Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court handed her a criminal behaviour order (CBO) which bans her from entering the city centre as well as any shops in the scheme.

She is also prohibited from wearing a wig or hairpiece designed to change her appearance when entering any retail premises.

Police Constable Andy Plant, from Gloucestershire Police, said: “Our retail industry is suffering because of these persistent shoplifters.

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“Roberts has been the top shoplifting offender in the last few months, and we now have another tool to deal with her in the shape of this criminal behaviour order.

“We will continue to support our businesses in the city and its surrounds by targeting shoplifters and obtaining further orders at court where possible.”

In its latest reported figures, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said shoplifting offences rose by 30% (to 443,995 offences) for the year ending in March, compared with the previous 12 months (342,428 offences).

Shoplifting “remains at its highest level in 20 years,” the ONS said in July.