A SNEAKY shoplifter hot footed it from a charity shop with a pair of shoes, leaving his old ones behind. Steve Charlesworth, manager of the Barnado s shop in Angel Pavement, Royston, discovered the theft after a customer asked to try on a pair of shoes in

A SNEAKY shoplifter hot footed it from a charity shop with a pair of shoes, leaving his old ones behind.

Steve Charlesworth, manager of the Barnado's shop in Angel Pavement, Royston, discovered the theft after a customer asked to try on a pair of shoes in the store on Friday.

Mr Charlesworth said: "You wouldn't believe that people could stoop so low. We're getting more instances of shoplifting again recently, but this one takes the biscuit. The man tried on the shoes, but it wasn't until after he'd left that we realised what had happened."

Staff in the shop did get a good look at the thief, however, and Mr Charlesworth has vowed to prosecute him if he is apprehended.

He said: "We've reported it to the police, and if we see he gets caught in the town again we will definitely take it further."

Anyone with information on the offence can contact Hertfordshire Police on their non-emergency number, 0845 3300 222.