Tesco and Sainsbury's shoplifter jailed after giving police false name and committing 16 thefts in just two months

M&S security guard left bleeding after trying to stop knife-wielding 'shoplifter'
GB News
Eliana Silver

By Eliana Silver


Published: 09/04/2025

- 14:25

Despite admitting to the theft when stopped, she was not arrested at the time as she provided false details to officers

A woman has been jailed for 24 weeks after committing 16 offences in Cambridgeshire during a two-month crime spree.

Lauren Slater, 29, was sentenced at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on April 2 after admitting to the string of crimes which took place between February 9 and March 24 this year.


Slater, from Norwich, was also ordered to pay £1,068.96 in compensation for her crimes, which included multiple thefts and attempted burglary.

Slater's crime spree included shoplifting from multiple stores across Fenland, targeting Peacocks, QD, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Boots and Iceland.

Theft

The thief also stole from Sainsbury's and Iceland

Cambridgeshire Police


On March 8, officers stopped Slater outside Tesco Extra in Cromwell Road, Wisbech, following reports of shoplifting.

She admitted to the theft and handed over the stolen items when confronted. The total value of goods stolen during her crime spree exceeded £1,000.

Despite admitting to the theft when stopped, Slater was not arrested at the time as she provided false details to officers.

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The information she gave came back as clear on police systems, allowing her to temporarily evade justice.

Slater was eventually arrested on March 25 at a house in Chandlers Way and subsequently charged with all 16 offences committed during her two-month crime spree.

The 29-year-old was taken into custody and later appeared before magistrates where she admitted to all charges.

The charges against Slater included 13 counts of theft from a shop across various locations in Fenland.

Arrest

On March 8, officers stopped Slater outside Tesco Extra in Cromwell Road, Wisbech, following reports of shoplifting

Cambridgeshire Police


She was also charged with obstructing a police constable by providing false details and faced a charge of criminal damage to a motorhome on St Johns Road on March 23.

The final charge was non-dwelling burglary with intent to steal, after she broke into the Three Lions Pub on High Street in March on the same day.

Slater, whose address was given as St Faiths Lane, Norwich, pleaded guilty to all offences.

PC Michelle Bax, who investigated the case, said: "Slater's decision to give officers false details to avoid being caught shows that she did not care about the impact of her crimes."

The officer added: "Thanks to the continued reports from businesses, we were able to identify Slater through CCTV footage and arrest her before she could commit further offences."

Police were able to track down Slater using security camera evidence from the targeted businesses.