Professional shoplifter Egudijus Baltrusaitis

TWO shoplifters are behind bars today after one nearly ran down a female security guard, while the other smashed her colleague’s head on a desk.

professional shoplifter Egidijus Matkevicius

The two security officers at B&Q in Ransomes Europark bravely tried to prevent Egudijus Baltrusaitis and Egidijus Matkevicius stealing weed killer worth £251.88.

The Lithuanian nationals were part of a professional shoplifting gang, which has struck in a number of counties including Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.

South East Magistrates’ Court heard Baltrusaitis, 44, of east London, and Matkevicius, 19, of Dagenham, would have sold the weed killer on the internet site eBay if they had successfully stolen it.

Prosecutor Colette Griffiths said both defendants were seen by security guard Peta Jessemey entering B&Q at 12.30pm on February 13.

The pair selected six bottles of weed killer worth £41.98 each before covering the labels with foil to avoid detection on a scanner when leaving the store.

After Baltrusaitis walked out he got into a silver Saab in the car park.

Ms Jessemey asked him to get out of the vehicle, but he refused. She attempted to grab the car keys but Baltrusaitis pushed her and opened the car’s door, hitting the security guard.

Baltrusaitis got out, removed the weed killer from the rear seat, and threw it out, the court was told.

During the altercation Ms Jessemey grabbed his glasses before Baltrusaitis drove off, his vehicle hitting the security guard’s left knee causing bruising, and the outer casing of a wing mirror to fall off during the getaway.

He was caught when police stopped his Saab on the Orwell Bridge.

Meanwhile, Matkevicius tried to run away, but got involved in a struggle with security guard Chris Rich.

The court was told that during the skirmish the teenager smashed Mr Rich’s head on a desk causing a small cut. Other staff detained Matkevicius before he could escape.

Matkevicius was given six months in a young offenders’ institution after admitting theft, common assault, 
and obstructing a police constable.

Baltrusaitis also pleaded guilty to theft and assault, as well as admitting driving without due care and attention.

His case was committed to Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing at a date to be fixed as District Judge David Cooper felt the maximum prison sentence he could give of six months was not enough.