Thief attempted to beat security

A shoplifter caught trying to steal two leather jackets went equipped with a foil-lined briefcase to by-pass a store's security system.

Paul Briers (37), of Ravenhurst Road, Braunstone, Leicester, was sentenced to 17 weeks in custody after pleading guilty to two shoplifting offences at the Fosse Park and possessing the case in connection with stealing.

Prosecutor Elaine Rogers told Leicester Magistrates' Court that Briers was first seen at the centre on November 30 when he was recorded on CCTV stealing a bottle of Armani perfume worth �39.99.

She said: "He was seen picking up the bottle and tucking it into his pocket."

She said that two days later, Briers returned to the Fosse Park centre and went into the Gap store carrying a black briefcase.

"He took two ladies' leather jackets, rolled them up and walked out of the store.

"When he was arrested, he dropped the briefcase and became agitated, saying he wanted his bag back."

The police searched the case and found it was lined with foam and cardboard wrapped in several layers of foil as an attempt to by-pass the store's security system.

The jackets, worth �190, were recovered and Briers was charged.

Heather Fretter, for Briers, said it was not a sophisticated shoplifting attempt.

"He was caught as he was leaving the store. The thefts were committed due to lack of means."

Ms Fretter said Briers had a vast number of dishonesty offences on his record and, as an alcoholic, stole to fund his addiction.

District Judge Richard Holland said Briers was in breach of community orders imposed in June and October, had been convicted of 64 thefts or similar offences and had continued to offend. He said: "I am satisfied the court cannot justify anything other than a custodial sentence."

Briers was sentenced to four weeks for the breaches, six weeks for stealing the perfume and seven weeks for stealing the jackets and possessing the lined briefcase, all to run consecutively.

An order was made for the briefcase to be forfeited and destroyed. It was not said in court whether the foil-lined case would have beaten the security system.

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