According to multiple reports, Harding stole 64 boxes of Cadbury's Creme eggs from the Barn Garden Centre in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire on February 13. CCTV footage from that incident shows her walking slowly out of the center with a large pink and blue bag, accompanied by a male companion, and appearing to eat one of the eggs while holding the stolen goods. On the same day, she stole bottles of spirits worth £300 from Dobbies Garden Centre in Hampton.
Before her arrest, Harding also stole alcohol and cheese on three occasions from the Co-op in Eye, though the total value of the stolen Cadbury's Creme eggs remains unknown. PC Rebecca Risebrow stated that Harding brazenly stole from several retailers in the Peterborough area with no thought of the impact of her actions. According to the police officer, these were not isolated incidents, but persistent behavior that caused financial loss and disruption to local businesses.
Harding brazenly stole from several retailers in the Peterborough area with no thought of the impact of her actions.
PC Rebecca Risebrow added that police continue to work closely with retailers across the city to identify offenders, share information, and take positive action wherever possible, targeting some of the county's most prolific offenders. Harding has no known address, and the identity and role of the male companion seen in the CCTV footage, as well as the reason behind her theft spree, have not been disclosed. It is also unclear what specific charges were included in the five counts of theft she admitted, or the status of any legal proceedings involving potential accomplices.
These were not isolated incidents, but persistent behaviour that caused financial loss and disruption to local businesses.
We continue to work closely with retailers across the city to identify offenders, share information and take positive action wherever possible - targeting some of the county's most prolific offenders.