Thief put $1 barcodes on purchases

A 30-year-old man falsified barcodes to purchase nearly $1000 worth of goods for $12 from a Timaru store.

Police, when executing a search warrant at Dylan Kane Fitzgerald’s home looking for the stolen items, opened a cupboard to discover 10 cannabis plants growing under a light.

Fitzgerald, who pleaded guilty to obtaining by deception, cultivating cannabis, possessing cannabis plant, and shoplifting, was sentenced to 150 hours’ community work and ordered to pay $1009.81 reparation when he appeared before Judge Joanna Maze in the Timaru District Court.

Fitzgerald replaced the barcodes of 12 items worth $992 – including a $249 pram, $219 gas barbecue, and $159 car seat – with those of $1 flute glasses and took them through the self-checkout during multiple visits to the Warehouse between August 25 and 26, 2020.

‘‘The defendant . . . left the store with the more expensive item and receipt to prove ownership over the item,’’ police prosecutor Sergeant Ian Howard said in a summary of facts.

Fitzgerald also shoplifted two packets of steak from Pak ’n Save in Timaru about 12.30pm on November 26.

He placed the steaks in his shopping trolley, before moving to another isle to slip them into his jacket pockets, Howard said.

‘‘While at the checkout, he picked up his child and exited the store, leaving his partner to pay for the other items.

‘‘When confronted by staff at Pak ’n Save, he refused to hand over the products and left the store without paying for them.’’

Fitzgerald discarded the steaks, worth $17.81 total.

Police executed a search warrant at Fitzgerald’s address and uncovered 10 cannabis plants growing under a commercial light, a further two plants at the property’s rear, and a jar containing 50 grams of cannabis head.

Defence lawyer Kelly Beazley said Fitzgerald was ‘‘remorseful for his actions’’ and offered to pay the reparation at $10 per week.

To help Fitzgerald reimburse the Warehouse and Pak ’n Save quicker, Judge Maze remitted his fines and enforcement fees of more than $2000 and incorporated them into his sentence.