Police charge woman, 49, with string of thefts which saw Christmas trees and shoes stolen from homes

The offences are reported to have taken place between December 8, last year and January 24.

The charges come after police received reports of thefts which took place between December 8, last year, and January 24.

The first took place in Knowle Avenue, Knowle, at 9.10pm on December 8 when a miniature Christmas tree was stolen.

Days later, on December 13, a pair of shoes were snatched from a driveway in Gosport Road, Lee-on-the-Solent at 4pm.

Then, on January 12 at 3.40pm, three car batteries were stolen from a garden in Portchester Road, Fareham.

The final incident involved the theft of copper and lead from a garden in Cottes Way, Fareham, at 6.49pm on January 24.

Police have now charged Eileen Hughes, 49, of Blanchard Road, Bishop's Waltham, with four counts of theft.

She is due to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on May 17.