Costly crime: Man busted after CCTV shows him stealing bag from pokies player

Stealing a bag from a woman playing the poker machines at a hotel turned out to be more costly than the crime was worth for this Fraser Coast man.

Stealing a bag from a woman playing the poker machines at a hotel turned out to be costly for one Hervey Bay man.

Stealing a bag from a woman playing the poker machines at a hotel turned out to be more costly that the crime was worth for one Hervey Bay man.

Joshua James Smoothy pleaded guilty in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court to stealing after a previous conviction, obstructing police, trespassing and possessing restricted drugs.

The court heard in the first incident, the victim was at a hotel and had the bag next to her while playing the poker machines.

Smoothy stole the handbag, which had the victim’s car keys, cards and cash inside.

The car key alone had cost $1000 to replace, the court heard.

The theft was captured on CCTV, which led to Smoothy being identified.

In another incident, Smoothy was stopped by police after they noticed him concealing something in his shorts.

When the officers approached him, Smoothy turned and took off, jumping a fence at Tooth Street in Point Vernon before running through a property.

Two palings were broken when he jumped the fence.

Then, in a third incident, police saw two people, including Smoothy, standing near a car.

A search was carried out and he was found with restricted medication which he told police he had no prescription for.

The court heard Smoothy’s stealing was opportunistic and he needed the money.

He was fined $1000 and ordered to pay $2500 in restitution.