Michael Terence Trafford and Kelly Leigh Arnold pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of cheap sunglasses in Gladstone

It didn’t take long for police to catch up with this pair of thieves who targeted a Gladstone chemist and then later denied the crime before being shown damning evidence.

Michael Terence Trafford, 43, and Kelly Leigh Arnold, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of stealing each in the Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday.Â

A $3.15 pair of chemist sunglasses ended up costing a Gladstone couple a lot more than they bargained for.

Michael Terence Trafford, 43, and Kelly Leigh Arnold, 30, pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday to one count of stealing each.

On December 19, around 2.15pm, Trafford and Arnold walked into Chemist Warehouse in Clinton and made their way to an empty aisle.

Arnold ripped the tag off a pair of sunglasses, which cost $3.15, and handed them to Trafford before rushing to the register and paying for another product.

The pair made no attempt to pay for the sunglasses before leaving the store and driving off in Arnold’s car.

On July 15, 2021 police attended 26 Alder Street, New Auckland and located the pair.

When questioned in relation to the incident, Trafford denied he had stolen the sunglasses.

Police showed Trafford photos of both he and Arnold in Chemist Warehouse stealing the item, to which he made full and frank admissions.

Trafford was convicted and fined $100 and ordered to pay $3.15 in restitution to Chemist Warehouse.

Arnold was fined $100 and a conviction was recorded.