Shameless art thief caught in the act by CCTV cameras
A brazen thief stole a valuable vase from an art gallery by simply stuffing it into her shopping bag and walking out with it.
CCTV footage of Michelle Pring helping herself to the vase
Michelle Pring, 49, picked up the vase from its display cabinet and slipped it into her bag when gallery staff weren’t looking.
But she did not realise she was being watched by CCTV – and her actions were being recorded.
A court ordered her to pay £280 compensation for the vase after being shown the CCTV pictures.
The video showed Pring looking at the distinctive handmade vase while browsing round the Victoria Fearn Gallery in Cardiff in June.
In the film she then looks at other items before returning to the large blue vase and stealing it.
Gallery owner Ms Fearn, 38, posted the images of Pring on Facebook, pleading for help.
Michelle Pring didn't realise she was being filmed by CCTV
Hopefully people will now think twice
Her post was shared 3,000 times. Police were later able to track down Pring from the images and took her to court.
Pring, of Ely, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to theft at Cardiff magistrates court.
The gallery owner posted the images on Facebook and got 3,000 shares
She was fined £120 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and £85 costs.
After the case, Ms Fearn said: “A great result. Hopefully people will now think twice before they think they can get away with this sort of thing.”