A persistent shoplifter who repeatedly ignored a court order banning her from shops has been jailed, bringing what police hope will be a temporary pause to a string of offences affecting Swindon retailers.
Tracey Manser, 35, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on 8 April to 44 weeks in prison. The sentence covers multiple thefts as well as repeated breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order.
The order, imposed in December, barred her from entering any Co-op store within the borough. Despite that, she continued to visit the Beechcroft Road branch, leaving with items including groceries and household goods.
For local businesses, it’s a familiar pattern. Persistent, low-level theft can quickly add up, both financially and in terms of staff morale. Police say Manser had been given several chances to change her behaviour before the situation reached this point.
Inspector David Tippetts, from the Swindon Centre South neighbourhood team, described the offending as having a “significant impact” on shops in and around the town centre. He added that the additional penalty for breaching the order sends a clear message that such behaviour will be dealt with firmly.
There’s a tendency to view shoplifting as minor, particularly when it involves everyday items. Police are keen to push back on that, pointing out the wider effect on businesses already operating on tight margins.
For now, at least, the sentence offers some breathing space for those shops that had become regular targets. Whether it proves to be a longer-term deterrent is another matter — but it’s a line drawn, and a clear one at that.
