A REPEAT shoplifter who targeted four Carlisle shops in one day has been named and shamed - after her astonishing 45 identities were revealed for the first time.

Caroline Dicaprio, 55, was this week prosecuted under her rightful name.

But when she was first spotted shoplifting at the city's Debenhams store on Saturday, January 19, the police officers who arrested her could have been forgiven for any confusion over exactly who she was.

For it later emerged that the convicted thief has regularly used aliases - no fewer than 45 of them.

On past occasions, it emerged, she had identified herself as Elizabeth Alder, Caroline Allyson, Allyson Estob, or Caroline Allyson Stoker, to name just of few of her aliases. At yet other times, she had been Caroline Alison Thompson, Katherine Watson, Caroline White, Caroline Stoker, and Karenn White.

The list goes on, and on, and on.

The case came as Cumbria Police imposed a tough criminal behaviour order on another shoplifter who has been jailed.

Zoe Anne Dixon, 26, is now banned from all of Carlisle's city centre shops.

Meanwhile, in the Dicaprio case, she appeared at the city's Rickergate Magistrates' Court, entering guilty pleas to four thefts, all committed on January 19: stealing clothes worth £15 from Debenhams; taking clothing and mobile phone cases worth £185 from TK Maxx; pilfering chocolate, hats and gloves from B&M Bargains; and stealing pyjamas worth £25 from Tesco.

She also admitted flouting a criminal behaviour order, which banned her from travelling on trains anywhere in England or Wales without a letter of authority from a court or a probation officer.

The restriction was part of a criminal behaviour order was imposed by magistrates in Tyneside on December 6 last year after she was prosecuted for travelling on a train without paying her fare, and for shoplifting in Leeds.

She carried out her latest shoplifting spree after travelling to Carlisle by train from her home in Cruddas Park, Newcastle.

The court heard that she began her crime spree at B&M in English Street, before moving on to Tesco at Victoria Viaduct at 9am, then to TK Maxx at 10.10am, and finally on to Debenhams in East Tower Street just after 11.30am. The store's loss prevention supervisor recognised her from his Shopwatch app as Tesco had reported her stealing from that store earlier in the morning.

Her lawyer Sean Harkin told the court her previously imposed criminal behaviour order had not had sufficient time to have an impact on her life.

Magistrates jailed her for eight weeks.

They commented that her four thefts and the court order breach were aggravated by her previous criminal record.

They noted also that she offended while subject to an existing community order.

The defendant's current surname is almost identical to that actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who in the hit movie Catch Me If You Can played the part of the notorious US master conman Frank Abagnale Junior, who before the age of 18 masqueraded as a doctor, a lawyer, and an airline co-pilot.

He was also a brilliant forger.

There is no suggestion Caroline Dicaprio ever committed any such offences.

One of a number of out-of-town shoplifters prosecuted in Cumbria in recent weeks, her latest spate of stealing prompted Cumbria Police to warn they have and will continue to target shoplifters who travel to the city in the hope of finding easy pickings.

Sergeant Lewis Powell said officers use a range of tactics to tackle and deter shoplifting in Carlisle.

“We have regular patrols in the city centre dealing with shoplifters and conduct frequent covert operations where prolific and professional shoplifters are targeted," he said. "Our officers and PCSOs (police community support officers) work alongside the Carlisle Shopwatch scheme, whereby they are linked in with store security staff and communicate via radio.

“For prolific offenders we pursue criminal behaviour orders through the courts, as a long term preventative measure.

“Breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order can lead to a prison sentence.”

Shoplifter Zoe Dixon, who has no fixed address, this week became the latest person to be given a two-year criminal behaviour order by magistrates. The order bans her from all of the city centre's shops, and all B&M stores.

Commenting, PC Heidi Underwood said: “Criminal behaviour orders are a useful tool available to the courts which can help the offender to cease further criminality and help protect local businesses.

“In this instance, the court agreed with our application for the order.

"I would encourage anyone who witnesses the terms of such a court order being broken to contact the police immediately.”