The 43-year-old, from Newcastle, donned disguises to avoid being recognised as she targeted shops across the North East over decades.
A prolific shoplifter who has racked up 171 convictions has been banned from all but three stores across a huge area of the North East.
Tanya Liddle, 43, has been arrested almost 400 times by Northumbria Police and has “plagued” the area for decades, according to the force.
She has amassed a total of 171 convictions, most of which are for shoplifting, and she wore disguises to avoid being recognised.
One of her latest crimes was committed in TK Maxx in the Westmorland Retail Park, in Cramlington, on 24 April.
Liddle, wearing a hat pulled down low to mask her appearance, was seen in CCTV footage leaving the store carrying £1,500 worth of bags.
Some were draped around her neck, others in her hands and she pulled a trolley behind her.
Police applied for a civil injunction against the prolific thief, which was granted at Newcastle Civil Court last week.
It is the strictest ever in the force area, which covers more than 2,000 square miles in the North East of England, from the Scottish border down to County Durham, and from the Pennines across to the coast.
The order means Liddle, from Newcastle, is banned from entering any shops within the area, apart from a pharmacy, a supermarket and a clothing retailer.
If she breaches the terms and conditions she faces arrest and a possible jail term.
Inspector Patrick Hannon said: “We are pleased to have secured this order, which is thanks to the excellent and tireless work of our officers.
“Liddle has consistently targeted retailers for a number of years and exhausted every opportunity given to her to change her ways. With that in mind, we feel that this is the best way to manage her offending.
“The severity of this order demonstrates the seriousness of her criminality and the significant impact it has had on the retail community within the region, which is something we will simply not accept.
