Ipswich: Debenhams shoplifter stole for a third time a day after being caught for her second offence in three weeks

Ruslanas Volkovas, of Sirdar Road, Ipswich, stole perfume, cheese, tools and a pair shoes totalling nearly £1,000 on five different occasions.

The 34-year-old was ordered to pay £60 compensation due to her lack of means.

The first theft occurred at Debenhams in Ipswich on June 15.

Volkovas, although with another woman, stole perfume valued at £268.

Two days later, along with the same woman, she took shoes worth £40 from Shuropody in Upper Brook Street, Ipswich.

One the same Day Volkovas went into DIY store Wickes and tool hand tools totalling £88.14.

Volkovas was arrested in the town centre on the same day after being seen by a street ranger following the circulation of CCTV images from the theft at Debenhams.

Despite her arrest the Lithuanian national returned to Debenhams on July 6 to steal a further seven boxes of perfume totalling £397.54.

She was seen by a member of staff who gave chase after she left the shop. Police were called and Volkovas was arrested again.

A police spokesman said she was charged and bailed to appear before Ipswich magistrates.

However, despite this Volkovas went out shoplifting the following day. She took seven packs of cheese worth £38.85 from Morrison’s in Sproughton Road, Ipswich.

She had been seen to be walking around the store with a bag.

Volkovas then left the shop without passing the tills.

A member of the store staff stopped her when she went outside and her bag was searched.

Volkovas pleaded guilty to five offences of theft from a shop when she appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

She was given a 12-month community order and told she must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Last week new figures showed there had been more than 13,000 shoplifting offences in Suffolk between 2011 and 2013.

However, the figures had decreased year-on-year as in 2011 there were 4,235 reports, compared with £3,582 in 2012 and £3,510 in 2013.