A 33-year-old Braddon woman has been caught allegedly stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of handbags and cosmetics in Civic.

At 2.10pm on Thursday the security system in a store sounded, indicating goods had been taken form the store with security tags still attached.

The store manager contacted police and provided a description of the shoplifter.

Police located the woman nearby at 3.30pm, in possession of more than $2600 worth of allegedly stolen goods, made up of 15 handbags, some of which contained cosmetics matching those sold in the department store, and a knife.

She was placed under arrest and faces charges of theft, possession of a knife without a reasonable excuse, and breach of good behaviour obligations.