Multiple people from Bolton have recently been penalised by the courts for shoplifting.

Nationally there has been a reported rise in the offence with many shop-owners taking extra precautions against would-be thieves.

The Office for National Statistics has reported in the year to September it had risen 22 per cent.

Business owners in Bolton town centre also recently reported that they had seen a rise in thefts.

And the following people from the town have recently been dealt with by courts for this.

Laura Brown stole e-cigarettes and first aid plasters worth £110 from Superdrug at Middlebrook Retail Park in October last year.

She then stole 10 bars of chocolate, bacon and other household goods worth £30 from Heron Foods on Tonge Moor Road in March this year.

In May she stole property from Home Bargains.

The next day she obstructed a police officer.

The 32-year-old, from Bleak Street, Bolton admitted the offences at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court.

She was jailed for eight weeks and ordered to pay compensation of £70.

Nathan Mason stole cat food worth £40 from B&M Bargains in Bolton in August last year.

The 31-year-old also failed to attend at court in November last year.

He admitted the two offences at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court.

Mason, from Ninehouse Lane, Bolton, was made the subject of a community order to last a year.

He was ordered to do 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and to pay £40 in compensation.

Janine Patterson stole dog food from the Family Shopper in Bolton which was worth £2.49 in April.

The 39-year-old also damaged the shop on the same day.

Patterson, from George Barton Street, Bolton, admitted the two offences at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court.

She was fined £40 and ordered to pay £100 in compensation for the offences.