Police Seek Criminal Behaviour Order to Curb Thieving of Scarborough Shoplifter

North Yorkshire Police is seeking a criminal behaviour order to curb the thieving of a Scarborough shoplifter.

Bethany Rose Dunn, 38, of Gildercliffe, Scarborough, admitted six offences of shop theft when she appeared in custody at Scarborough Magistrates' Court on Friday, 17th May 2024.

Theft is an offence under section 1 of the Theft Act 1968. Shop theft of items under the value of £200 is dealt with as a summary offence, with the maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine. We have previously written an article on the legalities surrounding theft.

Since September last year, Dunn has stolen more than £3,000 worth of goods from the shelves of the town's retailers.

Giving the number of offences and Dunn's horrific previous record, Magistrates' took the view that her offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate. However, for reasons that have gone unreported the Bench has elected to suspend the custodial term.

Dunn was sentenced to 24 weeks' custody suspended for 12 months, with the following requirements:

• An electronically-monitored curfew for 8 weeks;
• A 12-month exclusion from Tesco, Burniston Road, Morrisons Daily, Westwood Road, and West End Garage, Seamer Road;
• Up to 20 days' rehabilitation activity requirement.

PC Sophie Milner, of Scarborough’s Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "Dunn's rampant shoplifting has started to compromise the safety of retail staff, as well as members of the public. Dunn has threatened violence to employees on several occasions thus compromising their safety."

The police are seeking a criminal behaviour order with the following conditions:

• Not to enter The Co-op store, Newlands Park Drive, Scarborough, for any reason;
• Not to enter Sainsburys superstore, Falsgrave Road, Scarborough, for any reason;
• Not to enter ANY One Stop Shop in the Borough of Scarborough, for any reason;
• Not to enter Matalan, St Thomas Street, Scarborough, for any reason;
• Not to enter Proudfoot supermarket, Scalby Road, Newby, Scarborough, for any reason;
• Not to enter Proudfoot supermarket, High Street, Eastfield, Scarborough, for any reason;
• Not to enter West End Garage, Seamer Road, Scarborough, for any reason;
• Not to enter Morrisons Daily, Westwood Road, Scarborough, for any reason;
• Not to enter Tesco, Burniston Road, Scarborough, for any reason.

The court has made an interim order with these conditions. The full application will be heard at Scarborough Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 25th June 2024.

Should Dunn commit any shop thefts before then, it is entirely likely her suspended sentence would be activated in full. She should also expect to receive a consecutive custodial term for breaching the interim order.

Shop thieves are the pits. They are stealing from the pockets of every honest customer.