SHOPLIFTERS will have to pay for their crimes... and could even lose their houses.

Thanks to a new partnership between police and retailers, thieves will be pursued through the courts by civil debt recovery companies

When an offender has been charged or cautioned for an offence, the retailer can instruct a civil debt recovery company to take further action.

Sergeant Steve Brown from Lancashire Police said: "This approach is designed to discourage stealing from shops. Not only will they receive a punishment in the criminal courts, but also the civil courts.

"In addition, the civil debt recovery company can confiscate property belonging to the offender to cover any award made by the court.

"The court can also obtain an order for employers to make payments direct to the retailer and obtain a charge over any house the offender owns."