A jobless woman stole clothes, handbags, belts and shoes to order and then re-sold them to her friends and former colleagues, police said yesterday.
They said at least 2,000 items seized from a rented room in Mongkok were believed to have been stolen from department stores over the past 10 months.
The woman was alleged to have received orders from her friends and former workmates before she went looking for items matching the requested colours and sizes.
'Each time, she stole several items which she hid in a bag when she left the department store,' the source said.
'She then re-sold the goods to her buyers at a 60 per cent discount on the original price.' Detectives are investigating whether the purchasers were aware the goods were stolen.
The woman, in her 30s, was arrested in Pacific Place after being caught stealing clothes from Marks & Spencer on Tuesday. Police said they found order forms on her.