Virginia Tarcinia Crawford jailed for massive month-long crime spree including a dozen thefts

A mother has been jailed for a meth-fuelled crime spree which featured a dozen brazen thefts and robberies - stealing jewellery, cash, electronics and clothes worth more than $20,000.

A meth addict mother who went on a month-long crime spree featuring a dozen brazen thefts and robberies, stealing items worth more than $20,000, has been jailed for at least three-and-a-half years.

Virginia Tarcinia Crawford, 33, was sentenced in the Adelaide District Court over the crime spree, which occurred between December 2020 and January 2021.

The criminal splurge began on December 7 when Crawford threw a rock at a car in Blair Athol, before the next day entering a marked police car at Prospect and beeping its horn to distract officers who were arresting her friend.

After fleeing that scene, Crawford breached her bail three days later by failing to attend a supervision appointment.

The spree then escalated on December 21, when Crawford broke into a house in Dry Creek with two accomplices and stole a Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV, $8000 in jewellery and various electronics including a tablet, laptop computer, computer tower, television and two hard drives.

Later the same day, Crawford stole more items from the Caltex Woolworths Service Station at Felixstow and the White Horse Inn at Bolivar.

The next day on December 22, Crawford stole a bottle of Bundaberg Rum valued at $180 from a BWS store at Prospect.

The mother then managed to rein in her behaviour for the following four days over the Christmas period, before her crime rampage resumed on December 27.

Judge Timothy Heffernan said Crawford had brazenly approached a 67-year-old woman who was standing out the front of the Northpark Shopping Centre at Prospect.

“You approached her, took her handbag out of the trolley and said words to the effect of ‘I’ll take that’,” Judge Heffernan said.

“The woman grabbed her bag and tried to stop you from taking it … the two of you struggled for a few seconds before you shoved her which made her let go of the bag.”

The handbag contained various credit and health cards, $280 cash, a mobile phone, two cheque books and a notebook.

Virginia Crawford attempted to make off with jewellery worth more than $3000 from a store at Arndale Shopping Centre. Picture: File

Crawford fled the scene before going on a spending spree using the stolen cards, making several unauthorised transactions between December 27 and 29 totalling to almost $700.

On January 7, 2021 Crawford continued her daylight robbery campaign, stealing more than $200 worth of clothes from Rebel Sports Store at Gepps Cross.

When a staff member tried to stop her from making off with the items, Crawford produced a knife and threatened to stab her.

Two days later, Crawford entered Prouds the Jewellers store at Arndale Shopping Centre, where she distracted a staff member before attempting to make off with jewellery worth more than $3000.

When the staff member attempted to prevent her from leaving the store, Crawford again made violent threats, the court heard.

“The employee held your right hand with both hands and told you to let go of the necklaces. You said to the employee ‘I have a knife. I will cut you’,” Judge Heffernan said.

“The employee observed something silver and shiny in your left hand protruding from your closed fist and she let go of your hand.”

Crawford then got into a “reasonably prolonged” struggle with the employee before eventually leaving the store empty-handed.

Later that day Crawford was located and arrested by police at an address in Croydon Park still wearing a maroon sports bra identical to the one stolen from the Rebel Sports Store.

She has been in custody since her arrest.

The court heard Crawford had endured several traumatic moments in her life including her father dying on a camping trip when she was ten and witnessing her brother get electrocuted at a Port Augusta power station at age 16.

Judge Heffernan sentenced Crawford to seven years and four months jail, with a non-parole period of three years and 10 months.

The sentence and the non-parole period were backdated to the day Crawford was taken into custody, on January 9, 2021.