Tanya Liddle, 43, would try to hide her face under extravagant hats(Image: Northumbria Police)

Britain's most prolific female shoplifter has been arrested 400 times and wears ludicrous disguises

Tanya Liddle, 43, has been arrested almost 400 times and caught trying to hide her face under extravagant hats following 171 convictions - the vast majority for shoplifting

by · The Mirror

A prolific shoplifter who used disguises after being arrested almost 400 times is now banned from every store in her force area.

Tanya Liddle, 43, would try to hide her face under extravagant hats after 171 convictions, the vast majority for shoplifting. Northumbria Police yesterday/today (Wed) released footage of her going into a TK Maxx in Cramlington, Northumberland. Dressed in her trademark wide-brimmed straw hat, she helped herself to £1,500-worth of bags in April this year.

She was captured on CCTV with her haul, leaving without paying or speaking to staff. It was one of her last offences before a successful police application for a civil injunction against her. The order is the strictest of its kind ever issued on behalf of the force.

Lydia has been captured on CCTV fleeing shops with a bunch of items( Image: Northumbria Police)

It means she will now be prevented from entering any retail premises in the Northumbria Police area. There are just three exceptions, one pharmacy, one supermarket and one clothing retailer. Should Liddle, of Murrayfield Road, Newcastle, ignore the terms and conditions of her order, she faces a possible jail term.

Insp Patrick Hannon said Liddle had 'consistently targeted retailers' over a number of years. He added: "She exhausted every opportunity given to her to change her ways. With that in mind, we feel that this is the best way to manage her offending.

“The severity of this order demonstrates the seriousness of her criminality and the significant impact it has had on the retail community within the region, which is something we will simply not accept.

Lydia pictured attempting to hide her face under a large hat( Image: Northumbria Police)

“This ruling sends a clear message to other shoplifters that your behaviour will not be tolerated and you will be brought to justice. Should we find Liddle in a premises where she should not be, we will not hesitate to take action and get her arrested."

He added: “We hope that this news offers reassurance to the wider community. We will continue to do everything in our power to act on concerns reported and bring effective justice against prolific offenders.”

Anyone who sees Liddle breaking the order should contact police. The move comes after the Mirror highlighted work by NE1, the Newcastle business development district, to tackle shoplifting.

They have special patrols on duty in the city centre in a bid to protect retail premises and tackle repeat offenders.