Shoplifter who stole more than £5,000 worth of items pleads guilty

A prolific shoplifter has pleaded guilty to stealing around £5,400 worth of products in stores across the City of London.

Alice Constantin, 19, of Green Lane, Ilford, pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to seven counts of theft.

On 29 March 2025, Constantin entered a store on Gracechurch Street and stole around £2,000 worth of cosmetic products.

On the same day, Constantin entered a clothing and homewares store on Gracechurch Street. She picked out items of clothing and removed the security tags before putting them in a carrier bag. She left the store with around £560 worth of items. 

On 16 July, she stole around £620 worth of skincare products from a store on Bishopsgate.

Sergeant Chris Hook, of the Neighbourhood Policing team at the City of London Police, said:

“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime; it can cause significant alarm and distress to retail staff, as well as members of the public.

“We want retailers to come forward and report any crime so we can start investigations. Through the store’s CCTV, and our extensive camera network in the City, we will identify, find and bring criminals before the courts.”

Constantin also pleaded guilty to the following offences:

• On 4 November 2024, she went into a store on Gracechurch Street stealing £820 worth of skincare products.
• On 14 December 2024, she went back to the same store on Gracechurch Street and stole around £680 worth of goods.
• On 9 March 2025, staff at a store on Cheapside saw Constantin attempting to steal make up products worth a total of £520. She was approached by a member of staff and left without taking any of the items.
• On 16 July 2025, she entered a store on Moorgate and took around £194 worth of skincare items.

Constantin will be sentenced later this month.