A 23-year-old woman has been charged following an incident at a Sainsbury’s store in Penge earlier this month.

Stephanie Donaldson, from Croydon, was arrested on January 3, 2025, after allegedly attempting to steal goods worth £800 from the supermarket. She was detained by security staff at the scene before police arrived.

Following her arrest, Donaldson was charged with robbery and attempted theft. The charges reflect the seriousness of the incident, which involved an alleged attempt to leave the store with a significant quantity of goods.

Local police commended the swift actions of the store’s security team in preventing further loss and ensuring the suspect was detained until officers arrived. A spokesperson for the force said:
“We are committed to tackling shoplifting and related crimes that impact businesses and the community. We thank the public and retail staff for their vigilance in helping us address such incidents.”

Donaldson is due to appear at a local magistrates’ court later this month.

Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity or theft-related incidents to their local police station or anonymously via Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.