Actress Winona Ryder accused of shoplifting

Actress Winona Ryder has been arrested after allegedly shoplifting in an expensive Beverly Hills department store.

The Hollywood star was arrested on Wednesday at Saks of Fifth Avenue after police were called by security staff, said Lieutenant Gary Gilmond, of Beverly Hills Police Department.

She was also found in possession of pharmaceutical drugs for which she allegedly had no prescription when she was arrested on Wilshire Boulevard, one of Los Angeles’ most prestigious shopping addresses.

The 30-year-old actress was released on bail of 20,000 dollars (£14,000).

‘‘Security personnel advised they had arrested actress Winona Ryder for shoplifting numerous items of clothing,’’ Lt Gilmond said.

‘‘Ms Ryder was transported to the Beverly Hills Police Department and booked on charges of grand theft and possessing pharmaceutical drugs without a prescription.’’

He said security guards claimed to have spotted Ryder trying to steal hair accessories and clothing valued at 4,760 dollars (£3,305).

Security officers saw a surveillance video in which Ryder was allegedly removing tags from the items, he added.

But Ryder’s lawyer Mark Geragos denied the allegations. He said the actress had a prescription for the painkillers and receipts for the items she allegedly stole.

‘‘It’s a misunderstanding on the part of the store,’’ he said, adding that Ryder was carrying the items between store departments.

Ryder played the mentally ill writer Susanna Kaysen in last year’s Girl, Interrupted, and plays a cameo role as herself in the comedy Zoolander, while her breakthrough role was in 1988 comedy hit Beetlejuice.

Twice nominated for an Oscar, she won critical acclaim for playing docile May Welland in the Age of Innocence, but has always had a reputation as a Hollywood eccentric.

Despite being naturally blonde, she has dyed her hair dark since the age of 16, and refuses to help promote her films.

Her godfather was LSD guru Dr Timothy Leary and she was brought up in the Californian counter-culture.

Ryder split from then fiancé Matt Damon last year and also had a relationship with actor Johnny Depp. The actor had himself tattooed: ‘‘Winona Forever, but after they split had laser treatment to alter it to ‘‘Wino Forever’’.

Saks of Fifth Avenue refused to comment on the actress’s arrest.