THIS is the shocking moment two shoplifters stuffed a bag with clothes while shopping with children.
CCTV footage recorded at high-street store Spoilt for Choice in Sheerness, Kent, shows more than £100 worth of children’s clothing being picked out and shoved into a rucksack.
The shoplifters can be seen walking in a section of the Spoilt for Choice store in Sheerness[/caption]
The pair browse a number of clothes on the central railing and on side hooks before taking them[/caption]
They can be seen shoving the clothes into a backpack before leaving the store[/caption]
The store opened just 17 months ago and aims to combat the decline of the high street by providing independent and local companies with a space to sell their products.
However, shocking footage sees the two shoplifters grabbing a number of clothing items off rails before placing them in a backpack.
The clip sees the duo first take two blue-coloured clothes before two more items make their way into the pair’s backpack just minutes later.
They can be overheard talking about items of clothes while kids walk around the store next to them, with one even bringing an item to show one of the shoplifters.
Both of the “blatant” shoplifters – armed with backpacks – were then on their way out of the store when they were confronted by one of the shop owners, reports Kent Online.
Paula Desai, who has an upcycling business and co-owns the shop, stopped the shoplifters after fellow co-owner Rita McDonald flagged she had been getting alerts on her phone from the CCTV cameras.
She said: “I stopped them as they were leaving the shop and said ‘have you got anything that you haven’t paid for?’
“One of them denied it, shook her top and held her bag open. It was completely empty.”
Paula said that she did not stop to question the pair further as it was busy in the store the moment they were heading out of the door.
However, the co-owner then realised that the shoplifter had “put everything in her friend’s rucksack”.
She said: “It’s just really frustrating. It was all planned and they knew exactly what they were doing. They knew that I couldn’t do anything other than check.”
Looking back at the footage, Paula explained how the two shoplifters were “being very specific” with which items they were buying, adding that they “chose exactly what they wanted”.
She said around six dresses and three boys’ outfits – which would fit a newborn up to three months – were taken from one section of the store.
Following the shoplifting, Rita posted an appeal for help on Facebook which stated: “Sometimes I wonder why I bother.
“Having a small business is tough, but I love it until people feel they can help themselves, not to one outfit but a whole backpack full.
“Clearly, seeing the cameras didn’t bother them.”
After seeing the posts online, cops visited the store – prompting the owners to report the crime and upload the CCTV footage as evidence.
Paula added that this was not the first time the store has been targeted.
A Kent Police spokesperson confirmed that no arrests have yet been made in connection with the alleged theft.
They said: “On 6 August 2025, Kent Police received an online crime report about a previous incident of shoplifting in Sheerness.
“It is alleged that at around 1.40pm on 5 August two women stole several items of children’s clothing from a shop in the High Street.
“It is reported the stolen items were concealed in a rucksack.
“An investigation is underway and officers are appealing to anyone with information to call 01795 419119, quoting crime reference 46/136679/25.”