A 24-year-old woman has been charged after clothing was stolen from a mannequin at a store in the Canberra Centre on Friday.

When confronted by a staff member, the woman allegedly became verbally abusive and attempted to hit him several times.

She left the store with stolen items, but was later found by police in the shopping centre.

While being arrested, the woman allegedly spat on a police officer and continued to be verbally abusive.

She has been charged with assaulting a frontline community service provider, robbery, offensive behaviour in a public place, demands accompanied by threats, and serious vilification.