Conditional discharge ordered for woman who stole DVDs

A woman caught red-handed shoplifting DVDs was handed a conditional discharge by a Magistrate.

Susan Mary Johnson, 47, pleaded guilty to stealing from Audio Visual in Mangrove Bay Road, Somerset, on January 2.

Crown counsel Larissa Burgess told the court Johnson works at a nearby shop. She came to Audio Visual around 11 a.m., when a member of staff noticed her put a DVD under her shirt.

They then watched via a security camera as she put another two under her shirt and walked out without paying.

The staff member called the Police — but Johnson handed over four DVDs she had stolen, worth $119.96, before they arrived. She told the officers: "Yes, I did it. I took them by mistake."

In a subsequent Police interview, Johnson, of Upland Lane, Warwick, admitted to the theft.

Defence lawyer Larry Scott told the court: "This was a moment of pure madness," explaining his client was under "personal stress" at the time and embarrassed now by what happened.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo handed Johnson a conditional discharge, which means no punishment as long as she stays out of trouble for 12 months.

Shopper's handbag snatched

A mugger snatched a woman's handbag as she loaded shopping into her car.

The incident happened around 6.30 p.m on Friday at Heron Bay MarketPlace, Southampton.

According to the Police, the 51-year-old victim from Sandys was loading her groceries into the rear of her vehicle when a man rode up from behind on an auxiliary cycle and grabbed her bag from the shopping cart.

He made off heading east on Middle Road. The bag contained cash, a cell phone and personal items.

The suspect is described as a brown-skinned male wearing a half face helmet, a puffy blue jacket with white sleeves and long dark coloured pants.

Anyone with information should call Somerset Criminal Investigation Unit on 234-1010.

North Shore Road digging begins today

Major road works will be carried out on North Shore Road in Hamilton Parish until the end of March.

According to the Ministry of Works and Engineering, work will begin on Monday between Sunny View Drive and Fractious Street. It will then continue eastwards.

Anyone with questions should contact highways engineers Michael Curnow or Curtis Charles on 295-5151.