76-year-old admits shoplifting charges

Her modus operandi was simple; hide the meat, pay for the cheap stuff.

But like most shoplifters, she struck one too many times. It was this 76-year-old’s third pilfering trip to Pak ‘n Save that did her in.

It all started at the Pak ‘n Save Richmond, near Nelson, in January.

The woman, who cannot be named, took two beef fillets from the butchery section and continued through the store, pausing in the liquor department to hide the meat in her handbag.

She took a bag of ice to the checkout, where she paid for the ice but not the meat, and left the store. The meat was worth $125.

Four months later, the woman visited the Pak ‘n Save Blenheim store about 2pm on May 23.

She took a loaf of bread from the bakery and a chicken wrap from the delicatessen.

She hid the chicken wrap down her top and headed for the checkout, paying for the bread but not the wrap, worth $4.89.

The following week, the woman returned to the Pak ‘n Save Blenheim supermarket about noon on May 30.

She took two packets of rib-eye steak, a packet of offal oxtail and a packet of pizza bases, hiding them in her handbag.

The woman took two loaves of bread and some buns, then went to the checkout. She paid for the bread and buns but not the steak, oxtail or pizza bases, worth $46.28.

When spoken to by police, she admitted taking the groceries from Pak ‘n Save Blenheim but said she could not remember taking the meat from Pak ‘n Save Richmond.

In explanation, she said she was still mourning the loss of her husband and was finding it hard to cope.

The woman admitted three shoplifting charges at Blenheim District Court on Monday.

Lawyer Kent Arnott said the woman had already repaid the Blenheim shop, but still owed $125 to the Richmond store.

Her counsellor was in court to support her, and submitted a letter to the judge explaining the woman’s mental state.

Judge Russell convicted the woman and fined her $100 on each charge, and to pay $125 in reparation.