Ana Luz, recently studying for her PhD, has been told she could end up behind bars unless she can control the desire to steal from shops.
Luz, who lives with her partner in Fitzwilliam Road, Cambridge, admitted stealing clothes worth ￡9.95 from John Lewis in Oxford Street, London, on March 9.
Phillip Lemoyne, prosecuting(起诉), said Luz selected some clothes from a display and took them to the ladies’ toilet in the store. When she came out again she was wearing one of the skirts she had selected, having taken off the anti-theft security alarms.
“She was stopped and caught after leaving the store without paying,” Mr. Lemoyne said.
He added that she was upset on her arrest and apologized for her actions.
Luz, 28, was said to have been convicted of shoplifting by Cambridge judges last October, but Morag Duff, defending, said she had never been in trouble with the police before that.
“She is ashamed and embarrassed but doesn’t really have any explanation why she did this,” Miss Duff said. “She didn’t intend to steal when she went into the store. She is at a loss to explain it. She is otherwise a very respectable and intelligent young lady. She went to her doctor and asked for advice because she wants to know if there is anything in particular that caused her to do this.”
Judge David Azan fined Luz ￡50, and warned: “You’ve got a criminal record. If you carry on like this, you will end up in prison, which will ruin your bright future you may have.”
Luz achieved a degree in design at university in her native Spain, went on to a famous university in Berlin, Germany for her master’s degree and is now studying for a PhD at Cambridge University, UK.
1. What does the underlined sentence “She is at a loss to explain it” mean?| A．In her opinion it was a loss to the clothes shops where she stole things. |
| B．She doesn’t have any idea why she has the desire to steal from shops. |
| C．She thinks it is a loss for her to explain why she stole things from shops. |
| D．Personally she feels ashamed and embarrassed for her shoplifting actions. |
| A．Carrying goods in a lift for a shop. |
| B．Taking goods to the ladies’ toilet. |
| C．Selecting some goods from a display. |
| D．Taking goods from a shop without paying. |
| A．Ana Luz is already got her PhD at Cambridge University, UK |
| B．Ana Luz is ashamed and embarrassed and knows why she often did so |
| C．the university graduate will be put in prison if she steals in shops once more |
| D．Phillip Lemoyne is the “respectable and intelligent” woman’s defense lawyer |
| A．Shoplifting Shame of a PhD Student |
| B．Apologizing for the Actions in Shops |
| C．Seeking Professional Help from Experts |
| D．Controlling the Desire to Steal from Shops |
