A SUPERMARKET manager has been charged with shoplifting from her own store.

Police have confirmed that a 44-year-old woman has been charged with a series of thefts from the Tesco Extra superstore in Port Glasgow.

The Telegraph understands the woman had been under surveillance for some time by Tesco management after a tip off from security staff.

She was detained on Saturday 13 September.

The woman is accused of stealing on four separate occasions.

A source said the employee had been allegedly stealing her ‘daily food shopping’ from the shop over a period of a week.

The source said: “A stock control manager was arrested within the store after a long covert operation by the security officers.

“The manager had been getting watched for some time by security officials and they managed to detain her.” It is believed the items allegedly stolen included cheese and biscuits.

Greenock police today confirmed that they had been called in following an allegation of theft.

Sergeant Allan O’Hare said: “A 44-year-old Greenock woman has been reported to the procurator fiscal after allegedly shoplifting goods to the value of £57 on four occasions between 6 September to 13 September.” Tesco bosses have declined to comment on the specific details of the allegations and say they are co-operating with the police.

A spokesman for Tesco told the Telegraph: “This is a matter for the police.

“We are helping them with their enquiries.”