AN alleged shoplifter has been arrested after police used number plate recognition cameras to track her vehicle.

Officers from Winchester police responded to reports of high-value shoplifting at Boots and Marks and Spencer on the High Street on Wednesday August 2.

A man and a woman were observed on CCTV leaving the city in a car, with the man being dropped off while the female continued in the vehicle onto the A303.

The location of the car was determined via automatic number plate recognition cameras, and the vehicle was stopped by officers.

Police declined to specify where the car was stopped.

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A large number of stolen goods and an amount of controlled drugs were seized. The woman was arrested for shoplifting and possession of class B and class C drugs.

The woman was also drug-tested at the scene, testing positive for cannabis. She was further arrested for driving under the influence.

In a post on the Winchester Police Facebook page, a spokesperson said: “Officers from Winchester NPT (Neighbourhood Policing Team) responded to a call over ShopWatch to a report of a high value shoplifting from Boots and M&S. The individuals left the city in a vehicle, that followed by Winchester City Council CCTV. One male was dropped off, with a female continuing in the vehicle.

“Unfortunately, we lost sight of the vehicle however thanks to some great work with our ANPR cameras we were able to identify its location.

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“Thanks to the eagle eye of PC Waight, the vehicle was sighted and stopped by officers from Winchester DPT (District Policing Team), closely followed by Winchester NPT. A large number of stolen goods and an amount of controlled drugs were seized. The female was arrested for shoplifting as well as possession with intent to supply class B and class C drugs.

“Due to the circumstances, the female was drug wiped at the roadside and tested positive for cannabis. She was then further arrested for driving under the influence of drugs. Thanks to some great partnership work between the teams in Winchester, the female is now with us in custody.”

A police spokesperson said: "A 42-year-old woman from Wiltshire, has been arrested on suspicion of theft, possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class B, possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class C and driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit.

"She has been released under investigation while our enquiries continue."