A SHOPLIFTER was challenged after trying to steal goods from a garden centre.

The offence happened at the business in Chester High Road, Burton, at 7.27pm on Thursday.

She was followed by staff into the toilets, where they asked to look in her bag. She was unable to produce receipts for the goods.

The thief then threw her bag at the staff before escaping in a blue Vauxhall Corsa.

- In separate offences, shoplifters stole a pile of jeans on display at a store on Cheshire Oaks at 7.15pm on November 10, before being chased through a hole in a fence; took four cans of Gold Label beer from a shop in Hope Farm Precinct, Great Sutton, at 8.20pm on November 11; and took three joints of beef, also from Hope Farm Precinct, at 2.35pm on Friday.

- A taxi driver was going down Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port, at 6.30pm on Thursday when the boot of his car was struck by a beer can. He saw three male youths in his rear mirror and stopped to confront them. There was an argument before the yobs walked to the Civic Hall.

- Crooks opened one charity box in a pub in Chester High Road, Neston, on Wednesday afternoon and stole the cash inside, and took another charity box from the bar.

- Two hoodies in dark clothing stole a bag from a car in Two Acre Grove, Ellesmere Port, at 4.40am on Wednesday then ran off towards Brompton Way, where they went in opposite directions.

- Crooks smashed a window in the side conservatory of a day nursery in Berwick Road, Little Sutton, on the night of November 11, and stole a pay telephone from the office area.

- At 3.15pm on Friday, two men damaged a house alarm and lock in Leighton Road, Neston, by kicking the front door causing the lock to smash. They made an untidy search, stole items and left in a silver Vauxhall Corsa parked outside.