Tanya Liddle, the suspect with the most theft records in England, is preparing to be released from prison after being convicted for the 172nd time, causing concern among store owners and security teams. Liddle has become a major problem in the area in recent years with hundreds of thefts.England’s most prolific thief Tanya Liddle will be released from prison next Monday after being convicted for the 172nd time.
Despite having more than 400 arrests and 350 criminal records, Liddle has been banned from entering all shops in the Northumbria Police region, but store owners are worried that this ban will not stop her. In the recent crime wave, Liddle attempted to leave stores with products such as electric vacuum cleaners, Pokemon cards, clothes, and coffee. In March, she was arrested for stealing chocolates worth 18 pounds from a service station.Store employees believe that after Liddle is released from prison, she will frequently change her appearance and come back. A store manager said, “Tanya has been a nuisance for years. When she gets out of prison, she almost comes to our store every day and tries her luck.”
Emmeline Taylor, a criminology professor at City University, used the expression “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results” regarding whether Liddle will recommit crimes. Liddle’s crime wave seems to be part of a larger theft epidemic reported to cost retailers in the UK 1.8 billion pounds a year. In 2023, there were more than 430,000 theft cases, most of which were repeated by the same individuals.Store owners express that Liddle frequently tries to steal from them when she is not in prison. A chain store manager said, “She got out of prison five weeks ago and started stealing again on the same day.” Despite receiving prison sentences in May and July this year, it was reported that Liddle served only half of her sentence each time.Local businesses concern that the 43-year-old woman is allegedly giving advice on TikTok to people on how to steal and avoid getting caught. Store managers stated, “We will see if the ban really works or not.”Local shop owner Sube Ikram criticized the lack of punishment and the inadequacy of the measures, saying, “These people should either be sent away for life or they should receive the treatment and help they need. They are harming the community.” A store manager from a shop where Liddle’s entry was banned in 2013 said, “She wears different wigs so people don’t recognize her when she enters.” The store manager mentioned that they introduce Liddle to new staff and warn them to be cautious.