A 32-year-old woman has been banned from entering every Tesco store within a 60-mile radius after a series of thefts that left staff and local businesses distressed.
Amy McCarthy, of Whetstone Lane, Tranmere, was handed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on 30 April. She admitted two thefts from a Tesco in Claughton, where she repeatedly entered the store on Upton Road in Birkenhead, filling her bag with cheese and fresh poultry without paying, and returning later the same day to steal more items.
The order prohibits McCarthy from entering Birkenhead Town Centre, all Tesco stores across the Wirral, and the Vue Cinema in Birkenhead. She is also banned from a defined exclusion zone covering key streets and shopping areas. Additionally, she must not touch or enter any motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, and must leave any shop immediately if asked by staff.
Wirral Neighbourhood Inspector Nicola Hughes said: “Theft from business is not a victimless crime as it has a huge impact on the community in many ways such as the cost being passed on to the consumer.” She added that the order demonstrates that such behaviour will not be accepted, and prevents McCarthy from causing further misery to businesses.
Police warned that any breach of the order could lead to arrest and imprisonment, emphasising that Criminal Behaviour Orders are a key tool in tackling persistent retail crime. McCarthy, who has previous convictions for vehicle interference, is now effectively cut off from major parts of the local retail network.
