Troubled pop star BRITNEY SPEARS has been caught on camera stealing a cigarette lighter from a gas station - but the owner is refusing to press charges.

The singer, 26, had stopped at Chevron in Sherman Oaks, California, on Friday (07Dec07), when she grabbed the item on her way out of the store.

When alerted to her mistake by one of the paparazzi, Spears retorted: "I stole something. Oh, I'm bad!" And despite her apparent confession, Chevron owner Jatinder Kaur is not planning to contact authorities over the issue.

He tells People.com, "Yes, Britney stole a blue lighter here last night. The lighter is $1.39. I'm hoping maybe the next time she comes back she will pay for it.

"I know she can afford to pay for it, but I'm not planning to file a police report. It's still not right for her to steal the lighter. I hope she will do the right thing the next time she comes here." This is the latest accusation of theft to hit Spears in recent weeks - in November (07), she allegedly walked off without paying for a wig from Hollywood sex shop Hustler, while just last week (02Dec07) she was accused of stealing four coats from fashion designer Katja Berglund following her birthday celebrations in Los Angeles.