from two Hamilton stores.

But Theresa Furtado was stopped at the airport by Police and placed in the Co-ed Facility until she appeared in Magistrates' Court, yesterday.

Prosecuting Insp. Peter Duffy said that, on March 15, Furtado, 28, had stolen items worth $130.50 from Trimingham's and $215 from AS Cooper even though she had enough money to pay for all of them.

Her defence counsel Mr. Justin Williams said the thefts reflected badly on security staff who should have stopped her.

Insp. Duffy said: "The defendant was seen by a member of staff in AS Cooper looking at the jewellery section. She looked at one pair and then others and dropped them in a knick-knack bag she had carried into the store.'' She was stopped in Reid Street by security staff who then called the Police.

Her bag was searched and six pairs of earrings found and recognised by staff at AS Cooper. She told Police: "I did not mean to steal them. I forgot.'' Later when her bag was searched another pair of earrings was found and also $130.50 worth of goods from Trimingham's, including combs, hair bands, slippers, briefs and bras.

Insp. Duffy said: "She denied the offences. Then on Friday, while on Police bail, she attempted to leave the Island. She was caught by Police and has been held in the Co-ed Facility.'' Furtado, a Portuguese national, living in the Azores was visiting her sister on a two-week vacation in Bermuda.

Mr. Williams said: "She is a tourist to the Island and was trying to escape a somewhat stressful situation at home.

"She went shopping on Front Street and became excited in Trimingham's at the goods on sale. None of the items were of great value and she had enough money to pay for them.

"It is a sad reflection on the security at Trimingham's that no-one stopped her leaving without any payment. If someone had stopped her she had the means to pay.'' He said that Furtado had a previously good character and said that she was in danger of losing her employment which she should have returned to yesterday.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis said: "I still do not understand why, if you had the money, that you did this.'' She was fined a total of $400.