Kye Rowden, 21, jailed for knifepoint robbery of Colonnades store after history of thefts

A man who has robbed from the Colonnades Shopping Centre more than 13 times has been jailed for a knifepoint jumper theft.

Kye Rowden has been jailed for stealing a jumper from the Colonnades Shopping Centre and threatening to stab staff who intervened. Picture: 7NEWS

A serial thief with an “extensive” history of robbing from traders at the Colonnades Shopping Centre has been jailed after his most recent knifepoint heist.

Kye Rowden, then aged 20, went to Colonnades to attend a Jobseeker appointment with a network provider on April 20, 2024.

Around 2.30pm, Rowden entered the Sport Power store, pulled a green Puma branded jumper from a rack, and moved to leave the store after cutting the security tag off with a knife.

A customer alerted staff, who attempted to retrieve the jumper twice as he moved to leave- but Rowden brandished the knife in an employee’s face.

During sentencing, Judge Ian Press said Rowden said words to the effect of “I’ll f***ing stab you”.

7NEWS obtained CCTV footage of the incident showing Roden threatening staff with a knife. Picture: 7NEWS

The court heard the employee walked back towards the entrance of the store after the now 21-year-old left, who then threw the stolen jumper back towards the store.

Rowden claimed he “did not know” why he was in possession of the knife, but His Honour said it reflected his danger to the community.

“In any event, your willingness to use a knife to steal a jumper which was of no real importance to you does reflect the extent of your anti-social tendencies and the danger you pose to the community, particularly when under the influence of methamphetamine,” Judge Press said.

The court heard at the time prior to the offending Rowden was ”wigging out” after being assaulted by unknown parties and experienced recent family tragedies including the death of his brother and mother’s dog.

Judge Press said Rowden had an “extensive” “history of dishonestly and violence” at the Colonnades shopping centre.

The court heard he had committed 13 offences over 11 dates between February and April 2022 and had assaulted a worker while stealing sunglasses in February 2024.

Judge Press said Rowden’s personal circumstances “does excite some sympathy”.

The court heard Rowden had a “lack of stability” during childhood with an “absence” of “positive role models”.

“You have little or no ability to deal appropriately with life stressors and you have, to a significant degree, used drugs as your sole coping mechanism,” His Honour said.

Judge Press said Rowden was “motivated” to change, but there was no evidence he could remain abstinent from drugs.

His Honour sentenced Rowden to three years, four months and 25 days imprisonment with a non parole period of one year and ten months, backdated to April 21, 2024.

After handing down the sentence, Judge Press warned Rowden that this “might be one of your last chances”.

“The reality is that is you reoffend, the sentences are only going to get longer from here,” His Honour said.

“No-one wants to spend their life in prison. It is a waste of a life.”