A woman is making headlines across the globe - for DEFECATING in shops before leaving.

Police say the woman - thought to be a kleptomaniac - poos in stores after shoplifting from them.

The woman, from New South Wales, Australia, experiences a rush of adrenaline while stealing and loses control of her bowels, experts say.

According to News Corp, the woman will not be identified formally because she suffers from an array of mental health conditions.

However, police have issued warnings to the public - and magistrates reportedly don't know how to deal with the female.

The woman reportedly targeted Best And Less Mittagong and a Shop Pharmacy in Campbelltown Mall.

A police file given to the press suggests the woman “stood still with her legs partially apart between a row of display stands”.

She then looked around while defecating on the shop floor “before walking away”.

The woman discarded a tea towel she used to wipe herself with under a store display stand.

One shop even closed for an hour while her mess was cleaned up.

When contacted by the Daily Telegraph , her lawyer Ben Archbold said she was remorseful and working to improve her behaviour.

“My client has a mental illness and has quite clearly fallen through the cracks of the mental health support available in the community,” Mr Archbold said.

“She would be assisted if you just left her alone.”

She will return to court in September for sentencing.