Shop thief pays price

Woman tried to walk out of Woolworths with suitcase of groceries

A WOMAN who wheeled a suitcase into a supermarket and started loading it with groceries admitted she had planned to steal them when confronted by security, a court has heard.

Cymone Lorraine O’Keefe faced Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing after a previous conviction, attempted stealing, contravening a police direction and failing to appear.

Police prosecutor Kellie Mythen said on January 27, O’Keefe walked into Woolworths at Vincent with a suitcase and a shopping basket.

Ms Mythen said O’Keefe placed items into the shopping basket and then loaded some of them into the suitcase while in the store.

“The defendant continued walking through the store and has partially consumed a small jar of pickled onions and a 150g packet of rocky road nut mix,” she said.

Ms Mythen said O’Keefe then loaded more items from her shopping basket into the suitcase and was confronted by a security guard.

“As the security guard approached … the defendant said ‘ you got me’,” she said.

“The defendant was asked by security what her intentions were packing the items in her suitcase, to which she replied ‘ yeah, I was gonna try steal them but you were too good at your job’.”

Ms Mythen said O’Keefe then unloaded some items from her suitcase but declined a check of the bag when requested by security.

“Security accompanied the defendant outside the front of the store where they awaited the police arrival,” she said.

“Whilst awaiting the police arrival the defendant has removed a quarter roast chicken from her suitcase and partially consumed it in front of security.”

The court heard O’Keefe had also stolen groceries from the Mundingburra IGA on December 15, 2017, loading items worth $ 44 into a green shopping bag.

Ms Mythen said O’Keefe walked out without attempting to pay and was identified by staff as she had stolen from the supermarket before.

O’Keefe chose to represent herself in court, appearing via video link from prison.

“I’m very remorseful for my actions, it’s embarrassing,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

O’Keefe was sentenced to three months for each count of stealing after conviction and three months for attempted stealing.

She was fined $ 100 for failing to appear in court and for the contravention of a police direction she was convicted and not further punished.

She was released on parole yesterday.