Bodycam footage captured the moment a prolific shoplifter pretended to be his brother in a bid to avoid arrest. Anthony Gallagher, 40, brazenly stole more than £120 worth of goods from a Co-op store in Woolton on three occasions within 30 minutes, even changing his clothes before the final theft to evade detection.
Crime spree on Sunday afternoon
Liverpool Crown Court heard Gallagher began his crime spree at around 5.15pm on Sunday, May 31. He first stole two jars of coffee worth £16, then returned about 20 minutes later to steal Fairy laundry detergent pods. Just 10 minutes after that, he was back in the store, filling his backpack with more coffee and detergent before leaving without paying.
Police were called and, after searching the area, officers spotted Gallagher at a pub next to Hunts Cross Station. Bodycam footage showed an officer asking for his name, but he gave a false identity. A second officer asked if he had a brother; Gallagher replied, 'I've got two. Anthony and [bleep].'
Denial and confession
The first officer then asked Gallagher to remove his cap so she could see his face. He responded, 'We look the same.' The officer told him, 'I'm not happy that you're not Anthony.' Gallagher then admitted, 'Well, I am Anthony, alright.'
Gallagher, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to 24 offences, including 12 counts of theft, 10 breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order, making threats to cause criminal damage, and a public order offence involving threatening behaviour.
Sentence and impact
On Tuesday, June 30, Gallagher was jailed for two years and seven months. His Criminal Behaviour Order was also extended for a further seven years. Neighbourhood Inspector Michelle Ingram said: 'Gallagher brazenly stole stock from the Co-Op store three times within the space of half an hour and did his utmost to try and evade detection by changing his clothes in his final shoplifting spree. Then when officers caught up with him at Hunts Cross Station, he denied his identity, but eventually after some persuasion he knew his time was up and confessed it was him.'
Inspector Ingram added: 'Gallagher’s shoplifting has a negative impact where the community can suffer from the knock-on effect of constantly losing stock. Staff can lose their jobs and shoppers are impacted if retailers have to raise their prices to make up for the loss of stolen stock. We recognise the important role that policing plays in tackling offenders and supporting retailers in reducing the number of offences committed and keeping their staff safe.'
