Woman strikes it unlucky after stealing cash from workplace safe on camera

While she tried to hide what she was doing, it’s not the first time she had been sprung for dishonesty offending.

A woman has been fined after she stole money from the local bowling alley she used to work at.

A woman has received a large fine and had a conviction recorded against her name as a warning to future employers of her history of dishonesty.

Angela Gai Cameron, 52, pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday to one count of stealing by clerks and servants.

The court heard Cameron was working for Bundy Bowl and Leisure as a shift manager at the time, which included duties such as finalising the cash register and putting money in the safe at the end of a shift.

On March 28 this year the owner/manager noticed two cash bags were missing from the safe and reviewed CCTV footage.

The footage showed about 10.30pm on March 26 Cameron was working and walked into the office before placing her handbag on the counter above the safe before opening it.

Cameron was seen removing two red cash bags from the safe and attempted to secrete them.

She then took her handbag from the benchtop before turning her back to the cameras while fiddling with the bag and blocking the view.

Cameron was then seen facing the safe again and closed it before leaving the room.

A red bag was seen on her handbag.

On March 30 Cameron was confronted about the incident and had her employment terminated.

The court heard the amount stolen by Cameron was $1376.25.

In April Cameron admitted to police, during an interview, that she removed the cash bags and stole the cash but said she only took about $690.

She said her final pay had a total of $1376.25 withheld and showed officers her pay slip.

As a result restitution was not sought by the prosecution.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tina Bland told the court Cameron had and offence of dishonesty in her history.

Sergeant Bland said in 2018 Cameron was dealt with for a charge of fraud and impersonation, but a conviction was not recorded at the time.

She submitted it was appropriate for a conviction to be recorded for the stealing offence for general and personal deterrence.

Duty lawyer Craig Ryan, who represented Cameron, told the court his client was going through personal difficulties at the time.

Mr Ryan said Cameron was extremely remorseful and apologetic for her conduct.

He said Cameron would struggle to work again with her history and submitted a fine was within range.

Magistrate Andrew Moloney took into account Cameron’s plea of guilty and that it came at an early opportunity.

Mr Moloney said the act had “breached the trust” of her employer.

Cameron was fined $1500 and a conviction was recorded.