Woman tries to steal underwear from Newport charity shop

The 25-year-old woman was seen by staff taking clothes from a display and putting them in her handbag at the store on High Street in Newport.

When staff confronted the woman she then put the items back.

Staff then called police, where officers dealt with the woman from Donnington, Telford before releasing her.

Constable Lee Thomas, of West Mercia Police said: "We were called to one of the town's charity shops after staff became suspicious of a female who they thought had been taking clothing items from the display and placing them in her handbag.

"When challenged by shop staff, the female handed back a number of items including ladies underwear and swimwear, which the shop was selling for a total of £30.

"What makes this type of theft even worse is not just the criminal act of stealing, but also that the items being taken are been sold to raise money for any one of a number of charitable organisations.

"I hope publicising cases like this both shows people who carry out these type of thefts that they will be dealt with and also reassures the charity shops themselves that police will take these matters seriously."

The attempted theft happened on Monday.