We've been targeted by Britain's most prolific female shoplifter

by · Mail Online

She is one of Britain's most brazen thieves, racking up 171 convictions and 400-plus arrests for shoplifting but still somehow free to terrorise businesses.

Tanya Liddle, 43, often wears big hats, wigs and sunglasses to avoid being recognised while swiping goods from the stores in the north-east she has stolen from so often over the years.

Shopkeepers have told MailOnline today that they simply cannot believe that she is not in prison despite her being a walking crime wave.   

And this website can reveal that such is her lack of shame, career criminal Liddle has now posted a 'how to steal' video on TikTok to educate the thieves of tomorrow.

The habitual offender has now been banned from all shops in the Northumbria Police area, with the exception of a pharmacy, a supermarket and a clothing retailer. But shop staff roll their eyes and say the ban 'won't stop her'.

One local store owner claimed she used her TikTok account, which has 1400 followers, to teach people 'how to get away with stealing'. The post has since been taken down.

Tanya Liddle, 43, on her TikTok where she has been advising people on how to steal and get away from it
The career criminal thinks she is the queen of disguises, but shop staff in Northumbria know exactly who she is
Sube Ikram, owner of Jolly's Tech at Gosforth Shopping Centre, is among those who cannot believe she is not in prison
Footage of Tanya Liddle using a hat and sunglasses as disguise in one of her shoplifting ploys
CCTV shows the shameless crook wearing a large floppy hat while stealing £1,500 worth of designer bags from TK Maxx on April 24 

Liddle's most recent crime saw her steal £1,500 worth of bags from TK Maxx on Westmorland Retail Park in Cramlington

Tommy Moir, 27, the manager of Card factory in Gosforth Shopping Centre, which Liddle was banned from in 2013, said: 'She wears different wigs so people don't recognise her when she comes in.

'We point her out to new staff members when she comes in.

'She has a TikTok account where she showed people how to get away with stealing, but the video was soon taken down.

'She has only stole a chocolate bar from us once and was picked up by security at the doors so we asked for it back.'

Liddle's social media account features a number of videos showing her sporting different wigs and hats. In one video she is seen lip syncing to Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal'.

The thief has now been slapped with a civil injunction, preventing her from entering all but three stores in the Northumbria Police patch - which includes an area of 2,000 square miles.

But, Tommy doesn't think the ban will stop her from nicking goods across the city.

He continued: 'I don't know how the ban is going to work or how it will be reinforced. She will still try to come into different stores.

'I don't think there's much else anyone can do. If she was sent to prison, she would only go away for a few months and come back out to do the same thing.'

Her TikTok account has 1400 followers including some thieving tips
Britain's most prolific female shoplifter Tanya Liddle, pictured, has racked up her 171st conviction
Liddle wears big coats all year around to fit in as much shoplifted goods as possible
Tanya is known to have cleaned out some stores in her area. She is now banned from most shops by police

Local shop owner Sube Ikram doesn't think the measures have gone far enough and claim she should be in prison.

The 33-year-old, who owns Jolly's Tech, said: 'She has stole an item from us worth £100, we are a small business, we will never recover that cost.

'I had been warned by many people about Tanya Liddle, everyone told me to be aware of her.

'She wears a really big coat so she can quickly shove things in the pocket, she is very skilled at what she does.

'She has previously been to Savers and cleaned them out.

'These people should be sent away for a lifetime or get the treatment and help that they need.

'They are damaging society.'

Liddle was also previously banned from Belvedere Retail Park in Kingston Park back in 2013.

MailOnline approached a number of stores she has targeted over the last decade, but most refused to speak.

Two employees burst out laughing when they heard her name. Another rolled their eyes and confirmed she was a regular in the store.

One manager, who didn't want to be named, told us: 'The ban won't stop her, it's just who she is.'

She is banned from most of Gosforth High Street
The local shopping centre is also no go unless she needs a pharmacy
The area's business park is also off limits

Another employee said: 'I'm not allowed to speak about it, but you should check out her TikTok.'

Inspector Patrick Hannon, of Northumbria Police, said: 'We are pleased to have secured this order, which is thanks to the excellent and tireless work of our officers.

'Liddle has consistently targeted retailers for a number of years and 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.

'I hope this ruling sends a clear message to other shoplifters that your behaviour will not be tolerated and you will be brought to justice.'