By ANNA USHER

A shopping trolley stacked with 68 tubes of toothpaste has landed a 46-year-old woman in court, after police allege she stole more than $11,000 of goods from supermarkets across the lower north shore.

Officers swooped near a supermarket on Christie Street, St Leonards, about 9.50am on Sunday and arrested the woman on the spot, allegedly finding the 68 toothpastes, 16 bottles of drink and 13 pain relief gel products sitting in her trolley.

Detectives from North Shore Police Area Command had been chasing the alleged shoplifter since March, after a shoplifting spree hit at least six supermarkets and a department store.

Police allege the stores were targeted on 13 separate occasions between March and July, across Neutral Bay, Chatswood, Crows Nest, St Leonards and North Sydney, with toothpaste and medications the goods of choice.

Inquiries led officers to allege the incidents were all linked, with the total value of the stolen items topping $11,000.

The woman was taken to Chatswood Police Station, where she was charged with 13 counts of shoplifting goods valued at $2,000 or less, and one count of breach of bail.

She was refused bail and is due to face Hornsby Local Court this week.

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