A woman who placed a packet of octopus and other items in her bag at a supermarket and then left without paying for them admitted a shoplifting charge when she appeared at Magistrates? Court. Ana Paula Cabral Sebra Moniz, 38, of St. David?s Road, St. David?s, was found to be in possession of groceries valued at $39 after she left White?s supermarket, in Southside, having paid for only one item.

Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney told the court that Moniz had been acting suspiciously in the store and a member of staff had watched her place items in her bag and then go to a checkout and pay for only one item before leaving.

Moniz was approached outside by store staff who checked her bag and found the unpaid for items. Moniz claimed at the time she had forgotten to pay for the goods and then offered to pay for them, the court was told.

Appearing in court, Moniz, who has no previous convictions, said she was sorry for what had happened and said she had simply forgotten to pay for the goods before leaving the store. Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner adjourned sentencing until November 16 so that a social inquiry report could be made. Moniz was released on $500 bail.