Jane Rand has been declared the biggest designer handbag thief in the UK after stealing almost one a day for the last three years.
Rand, a housewife and Mum-of-two carried out, what police have called a, ‘campaign of shoplifting’, stealing a total of 905 designer handbags and four purses from various shopping centres and department stores in Britain.
The 48-year-old woman from Swindon, stole high-end brands such as Mulberry, Prada, and Louis Vuitton, earning her just under €96,000 in three years.
Rand carried out the operation by entering a shop without a handbag and after selecting one that she liked, Rand detagged the bag and carried it out of the store over her shoulder.
Express reports that Rand admitted to stealing the items between December 2009 and December 2012.
Prosecutor David Wooler told Newport Crown Court, “A financial investigation had been looking into the case for some time.”
“It is estimated that the value of all the theft would be in excess of £130,000 but that does not take into account the shop’s mark-up.”
Jane Rand earned just under €96,000 in the three years of shoplifting.
Judge Rhys Rowlands said: “The defendant was only caught because people in Cwmbran happen to be quite diligent.
“She was caught red-handed with a handbag and in her car were two handbags stolen earlier that day. The evidence is overwhelming.”
“For all intents and purposes she has carried out a business, and we are talking about tens of thousands of pounds. It will be a custodial sentence of some length.”
Rand was released on bail and will be sentenced next month.
