In a scene more reminiscent of a magic trick than a shoplifting attempt, a woman was apprehended at a Co-op supermarket in Earl's Court, West London, after a customer noticed her skirt was "bulging" and moving strangely.
The Unusual Discovery
The incident unfolded yesterday afternoon when an eagle-eyed shopper became suspicious of the woman's appearance. According to an onlooker, the suspect had been moving through the aisles in an unremarkable manner, selecting everyday items like toilet rolls, eggs, and jam. However, her skirt appeared to be oddly swollen and was shifting in an unnatural way as she walked, prompting the customer to alert staff.
When confronted near the store's exit, the true extent of the bizarre theft was revealed. The woman was wearing a specially adapted skirt with a hidden flap, creating a secret compartment concealed beneath her clothes. Staff were reportedly left stunned by the staggering amount of goods she had managed to conceal in the Mary Poppins-esque garment.
What Was Hidden in the Secret Skirt?
Footage from the scene shows the woman beginning to empty the hidden compartment. The first item she produced was a jar of Bonne Maman preserve, valued at £3.80. This was followed by three boxes of eggs, each containing half a dozen and worth £3.20 per box. The pièce de résistance, however, was a massive pack of nine toilet rolls, which she pulled from the voluminous skirt among numerous other items.
In total, the value of the goods recovered from the secret skirt compartment was over £20. The woman was heard telling staff, "I'm giving you back," before becoming verbally aggressive, telling them not to touch her and swearing at a male employee who urged her to hurry up.
Aftermath and Police Involvement
The woman was successfully detained at the Co-op branch following the discovery. The Metropolitan Police have been approached for comment regarding the incident, as has the Co-op itself, which has been battling a rising tide of retail crime across its UK stores.
This audacious attempt highlights the inventive, and sometimes desperate, lengths to which some shoplifters will go. The use of a modified garment with a hidden compartment suggests a degree of premeditation, moving beyond opportunistic theft to a more planned operation targeting essential, albeit relatively low-value, household items.
