This is the moment ‘brazen’ shoplifters selected several items of children’s clothing before stuffing them into a rucksack and leaving without paying.
More than £100 worth of items were stolen from the independent children’s boutique while one of the stores owners watched the thieves live on CCTV.
Spoilt For Choice on Sheerness High Street in Kent opened last year with the aim of providing a space for independent companies to sell their products.
As well as clothes, the shop stocks jeweller, mugs, artwork and up-cycled furniture from more than 20 businesses.
The shoplifters came into the store on Tuesday, August 5.
CCTV footage shows the pair searching through the rails and picking out various items.
They consult with each other, before stuffing the items into their rucksacks.
They can be overheard talking about the clothes while children walk around the store, with one even bringing an item to show one of the shoplifters.
The pair were seen on CCTV footage discussing items of clothing as they browsed the rails
They were then seen stuffing the items into a rucksack right in front of the security camera
For around three minutes they browse the clothes, carefully choosing pieces to steal.
Co-owner Paula Desai said the two women were ‘blatant’ in their thefts.
She told KentOnline: ‘They were literally picking the sizes of the dresses that they wanted. They were very specific about it.
‘It wasn’t just them coming in and taking a handful of stuff. They chose exactly what ages they wanted.
‘One turned around while the other one unzipped her bag and stuffed it in. They took well over £100 – god knows what it would have been retail price.’
Paula said the owners were ‘frustrated that people think they can just walk in and help themselves’.
She added: ‘Business isn’t easy on the high street as it is. Lots of people still don’t know we are here after all this time even though we have advertised.
‘Just keeping afloat with rent is hard. We really don’t need theft on top of that. This is just another setback.’
The pair made off with around six dresses and three boys’ outfits for newborns.
The clothes were stolen from the Spoilt For Choice shop in Sheerness in Kent
One of the theives looked directly at the camera, while opening their counterpart’s rucksacks
Paula co-owns the shop with Rita McDonald and Robyn Gibbs.
Rita owns the children’s clothing company Lavish Patch, the stock which was stolen from the shop.
Paula says she received a call at around 2pm on August 5 from co-owner Rita McDonald who was on holiday in Turkey and happened to see the CCTV of the alleged theft live on her phone.
Rita claimed that she had seen one woman put something up her top, and that the pair of them had shoved several items into a backpack.
However when Paula confronted the duo, she says that they denied any theft and showed her an empty backpack.
It wasn’t until after the thieving friends had been let go that the business realised they had a second backpack, which was where the baby outfits had been stuffed.
Paula added: ‘When we looked back at all of the footage they had taken around eight outfits and had literally been stuffing it into the rucksack looking at the cameras. The shop was really busy at the time.
‘I was shocked. It is most frustrating for Rita. I felt really bad because I felt responsible for not stopping them and not getting her stuff back.
Rita happened to see the CCTV of the alleged theft live on her phone while on holiday in Turkey
‘That is money out of her pocket. So whatever profit she made that week she can kiss goodbye because these people thought to help themselves to it.’
Paula said there had been shoplifting incidents in the past but the items have always been returned after the culprits were named and shamed online.
However, the owners say they have heard that these thieves are just passing through – so they believe it is unlikely that the ladies will return.
Paula said: ‘We reported it to the police, but I don’t think any of us expect anything to happen.
‘I think these people were just passing through and are not from the area, so I am not really expecting anything to happen.’
On the Lavish Patch Facebook page, Rita wrote: ‘Sometimes I wonder why I bother.
‘Having a small business is tough but I love it until people feel they can help themselves, not to one outfit but a whole backpack full.
‘Clearly seeing the cameras didn’t bother them. I need your help, Can I please ask all in the area, that follow me, please share the posts from Spoilt for Choice and let’s name these women as I will be passing this onto the police.’
Paula said there had been shoplifting incidents in the past but the items have always been returned
A Kent Police spokesperson said: ‘On 6 August 2025, Kent Police received an online crime report about a previous incident of shoplifting in Sheerness.
‘It is alleged that at around 1.40pm on 5 August two women stole several items of children’s clothing from a shop in the High Street.
‘It is reported the stolen items were concealed in a rucksack.
‘An investigation is underway and officers are appealing to anyone with information to call 01795 419119, quoting crime reference 46/136679/25.’
