A SUSPECTED shoplifter is believed to have spun staff at a pet store a web of lies about a dead puppy in order to get a "refund" for products she had picked off the shelves moments previously.

The woman is wanted by police in connection with shoplifting and fraud offences in Pets at Home in Arun Retail Park Bognor, and at Marks and Spencer.

At 5pm on May 15, the woman entered Pets at Home and began to pick up items off of the shelves before heading over to the till.

She then told the cashier her puppy had died and that she needed to return the items.

The staff member consoled the woman and refunded her a total of £130.

The woman then left the store and was seen getting into the passenger seat of a grey or blue vehicle which drove away.

A short time later police received a call from Marks and Spencer reporting that a woman had been in the store and spun a story about some flowers she had ordered and that she wanted a refund.

When the shop assistant left the customer service desk to fetch the manager the woman loaded her bag with over £52 worth of alcohol.

After a discussion with the manager she was given £117 refund.

CCTV shows the same woman was behind both incidents. She is white, 5ft 8in, between 40 and 50 with dark brown hair in a ponytail. She was wearing dark trousers, a grey blazer and black shoes.

PC Russ Watson said: "We are asking anyone who recognises the woman in the CCTV images to contact police online at https://sussex.police.uk/contact-us/response-to-appeal/ or call 101 quoting serial 1121 of 15/05."