A DESPERATE man driven to steal $9.32 worth of goods from a
australian Woolworths store last month is seeing better days now,
bringing home almost $2000 a week.
Kelvin Power, 32, pleaded guilty in the Australian
Magistrates Court on Wednesday to changing the price of goods
without consent.
The court heard that on April 18, Power removed mark-down labels
from goods at Woolworths store and placed them on full-priced
items, which he then purchased at a self-serve checkout.
Legal Aid solicitor Grant Ireland said Power, who was out of
work at the time, had since gained a position as a loader driver at
a Central Queensland coal mine.
Power also faced charges of stealing petrol from a parked
vehicle at Stockland Rockhampton and hiding from police in a
bedroom cupboard to avoid arrest.
Police prosecutor Matt Heelan said Power had a history of
shoplifting.
Magistrate Barry Cosgrove said he took into account that the
crimes were not "high-end".
"There are cameras in supermarkets so you will be caught, and
you were caught," Mr Cosgrove said.
Power was convicted and fined $200 plus $9.32 in restitution for
the Woolworths offence.
He was also fined $250 for stealing petrol and $200 for
obstructing police.
"Generally, shoplifting is a juvenile activity, but there are
always exceptions to the rule," he said.
"Tough economic times can play a role - people try to justify it
in their heads - but if you keep offending you will end up in
prison."
Det Sgt Ingram said community awareness was the best deterrent
for shoplifting.
"Retailers need to put measures in place to prevent it and
report what's going on," he said.
IN COURT
Name: Kelvin Power
Age: 32
Charges: Changing the price of goods without consent,
stealing petrol and obstructing police
Plea: Guilty
Penalty: $650 in fines and $9.32 in restitution
