Thief who stole items worth £750 from Lyndhurst Antiques Centre returns them

A LYNDHURST shop owner has spoken of her surprise after a remorseful thief who stole antiques worth hundreds of pounds returned them a few days later.

Jan Stone of Lyndhurst Antiques Centre called the incident “a bizarre twist” but said she was “grateful” to have the items returned.

The pair – a man and a woman – believed to be behind the theft took two Moorcroft charger plates, worth a combined £750, on Saturday 18th February.

They stole the first before brazenly returning a short while later to help themselves to the second.

Jan, who said businesses in the High Street were “fed up” with shoplifters and a lack of police support, decided to share CCTV images of the alleged thieves on social media. The post was reshared more than 320 times.

“Sharing on social media clearly pays off,” she said. “In a bizarre twist, remorseful and upset, the woman walked into the centre and returned the items. She claims not to know the man she was with [and] declined to leave her contact details. We’re grateful to have the items back.”

The items will now be kept safely in storage.

Jan continued: “Lyndhurst Antiques Centre comprises multiple independent traders. They work hard to source treasures for our customers, and our staff do such a fantastic job in the centre.

“Times are really tough for small high street businesses like ours. First we had Covid and were shut for eight-and-a-half months.

“Now we’re faced with high inflation, soaring energy, wages and other bills. It is a struggle and shoplifting from small businesses – or any businesses – doesn’t help.”

She said she had “little faith” the police would catch shoplifters targetting her shop, so would be “using our social media pages to share and shame anyone shoplifting in our lovely centre”.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary confirmed to the A&T the thefts had been reported and added the investigation had been filed pending any new further information coming to light.