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The Express reports that serious crimes including burglary and shoplifting will be effectively de-criminalised and ignored by police as swingeing cuts to forces bite, according to a leaked memo.

At least one police force, Sussex, is warning that if further cuts go ahead officers will not respond to looters targeting shops and business premises – sparking a free-for-all for the thieves.

The Mirror reports that the daughter of Coronation Street actor Johnny Briggs has broken a ban that prevented her from entering every shop in Surrey after just six days of it being imposed.

Karen Briggs and her daughter were banned from all stores in the county after stealing alcohol from Marks & Spencer.

An interesting article on the website of lawyers Shoosmiths looks at the legal implications of employees lying about their qualifications and experience.

It states that employers who fail to have adequate safeguards in place risk exposing their business to dishonest and under-qualified staff.

According to the Ipswich Star, a Mothercare worker stole childcare and maternity items worth nearly £12,500 over a three-year period and sold them on eBay.

Hannah Lewis also sold a stolen pushchair to an unsuspecting police officer, telling him she could get the item with a staff discount applied.

A pair have been jailed for 12 months for operating a business where one travelled around the county, stealing goods and then passed them on to his partner who sold them on his eBay account, for a 25% cut.

As police report an increase in high value thefts, Kent Online reports that a serial shoplifter has been banned from entering more than 100 stores in Swale.

Peter Beale, of Sittingbourne, was found guilty of six cases of shoplifting, including stealing a £99 trampoline from the town’s Asda.