Shannon Nichols attempted to steal ‘abandoned’ $120,000 Porsche thwarted by owner

A crim who tried to steal a $120,000 dust-covered Porsche claimed it was “abandoned” in a city UPark.

A man who attempted to steal a $120,000 Porsche in a get-rich-quick scheme because he believed it had been “abandoned” in a city car park during the Covid-19 pandemic has been jailed.

Shannon James Nichols, 31, of Henley Beach, was sentenced in the District Court for the “premeditated and calculated” attempted theft which was thwarted by the car’s actual owners.

In sentencing, Judge Nicholas Alexandrides said the owner of the 2019 Porsche – which has been valued at about $120,000 – had been garaging the car at UPark Frome St in Adelaide.

Before attempting to steal the car, Judge Alexandrides said Nichols went to Mitcham Service SA office and re-registered the car in his own name, falsely declaring he purchased it for $80,000.

Later the same day, in September 2021, Nichols and a friend went to the UPark and began removing the owner’s personalised number plates, which he intended to replace with new ones from Service SA.

The plan came unstuck when the owner caught them in the act.

Judge Alexandrides said when confronted Nichols claimed the vehicle was his and presented the Service SA form containing the false information.

He said Nichols then left, claiming there must have been a mistake, when the owner’s partner presented a key and unlocked the car.

Shannon Nichols has been jailed for attempting to steal a $120,000 Porsche from a CBD UPark. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Nichols later told police he was “entitled” to register the car because it was unregistered and he “thought it was an abandoned ‘Covid’ vehicle”.

“The court was told that you were informed by a friend that he had acquired a Land Cruiser that had been abandoned during the Covid pandemic by a foreign national who had left Australia as a matter of urgency leaving goods behind," Judge Alexandrides said.

“You were told that this had been occurring in a widespread manner and property including cars were left behind.

Judge Alexandrides said Nichols was aware the Porsche had been in the UPark over a number of months “covered in dust” and felt he was “justified” in attempting to steal the car.

“It was said that it was a scheme for you to get extra money and hopefully not be caught because the owners were less likely to come back and make a claim,” he said.

He said Nichols, who has pleaded guilty to charges of dishonest dealing with documents and attempted theft, later returned to Services SA to seek a refund.

Judge Alexandrides said Nichols had a long history of offending and had been jailed in May this year for a offences including a serious criminal trespass. He extended that 18-month head sentence to three years and five months and set a non-parole period of 22 months.