Dishonesty on 'Olympian scale': serial shoplifter jailed
Narinder Kaur, formally known as Nina Tiara, deceived shops into refunding her for items she'd stolen
Last updated 31st Jul 2024
A serial shoplifter from Wiltshire is waking up in prison for what's been called a nationwide 'tsunami of dishonesty'.
Yesterday (30 July), Gloucester Crown Court heard Narinder Kaur, formally known as Nina Tiara, deceived shops into refunding her for items she'd stolen - with retailers in multiple locations targeted.
The fifty-four year old from Cleverton near Malmesbury has been given a ten year sentence after previously being found guilty of 26 counts of fraud, money laundering and perverting the course of justice on Friday 10 March 2023.
During sentencing the judge described Kaur's dishonesty as being of an 'Olympian scale' and that her home was 'a treasure trove of criminal proceeds'.
The incidents are said to have taken place between July 2015 and September 2019, a time during which it's estimated Kaur netted around £2000 worth of refunds per week, equating to over half a million pounds in fraudulent refunds and stolen goods.
Knowing that she was under investigation for these offences, Wiltshire Police have revealed that she then embarked upon a scheme to defraud other businesses using the dishonestly obtained credit card details of members of the public.
'A calculated individual'
Fraud investigator, Steve Tristram, from West Mercia Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “This sentence today sends out a clear message that West Mercia Police will deal seriously with prolific fraudsters. Kaur is a calculated individual who committed offences across the country, dishonestly claiming refunds on items she had stolen. She showed no remorse of her actions and even thought she would get away with submitting false documents to the court with the intention of perverting the course of justice.
“West Mercia Police took ownership of the investigation into Narinder Kaur in 2018. Working with National Business Crime Solution, an organisation representing retailers, and other police forces as a multi-agency approach, we were able to investigate further into her criminal activity and found fraudulent activity in her bank accounts which subsequently brought her to justice.”
It was all the way back in 2016 when Kaur first came to the attention of Wiltshire Police - for theft.
A joint investigation took place between Wiltshire and West Mercia in August 2020, which saw over a thousand items, suspected to be of criminal property seized from her home near Malmesbury.
She was arrested again in October 2020 when she attempted to fraudulently return items for a refund in Dunelm, St Margaret’s Retail Park, Swindon.
Hundreds of items were seized from her property, again suspected to be criminal property, including more than £113,800 in cash and dozens of gift cards.
During the joint investigation Kaur was also arrested for witness intimidation when she threatened to sue Dunelm staff if they made witness statements to the police. Despite being on court bail, the offences continued and Kaur was arrested in May 2021 for attempting to fraudulently return stolen items to Asda stores in both Melksham and Swindon.
A third search of her home address recovered a further £38,000 in cash, located by a police search dog where it was concealed beneath a water heater.
Kaur was also arrested by Wiltshire Police on several occasions for breaching her court issued bail by entering stores she had been instructed by the court not to, and failing to adhere to curfew times.
'Kaur carried out crime as her profession'
Detective Inspector Tom Straker said: "As most of us went to work, Kaur carried out crime as her profession. She travelled up and down the country earning a living as a professional shoplifter and a prolific fraudster, and attempted to evade detection by using around 17 alias names.
"In an effort to derail investigations Kaur attempted to intimidate both police staff and public witnesses, but thanks to the determination and professionalism of our officers, and the co-operation of the public, I am pleased that she will be behind bars for some time”.
If you suspect anyone is committing fraud or shoplifting you can report it online, via 101 or 999 in an emergency.
You can also get more advice about fraud on the Wiltshire Police website.