Aida Consuelo Arguetta pleads guilty to stealing, driving while disqualified

A woman was in a ‘toxic relationship’ when she drove the getaway car for a man who targeted a lone female at a train station.

Aida Consuelo Argueta was the driver in a handbag snatch at a train station.

A WOMAN whose bag was snatched off her shoulder as she walked to a railway station had the last laugh when her quick-thinking husband used a tracking app to pinpoint exactly where the thief took it.

Precise details provided by the tracking ap led police to the door of Aida Argueta and her then-boyfriend at a home in Dinmore, an Ipswich court has heard.

The stolen phone was found along with the contents of the woman’s handbag including bank cards and foreign currency.

Police discovered Argueta had helped the bag snatcher by driving him away in her car.

Aida Consuelo Argueta, 34, from Redbank Plains, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court to 14 charges including stealing; three charges of failing to appear at court; possession of dangerous drugs; three counts of receiving tainted property; two counts of driving when disqualified by court order; driving unlicensed – repeat offender; operate vehicle during number plate confiscation; tamper with/modify number plate confiscation notice; and breach of bail.

Police prosecutor Ricky Tsoi said the victim of the bag snatch was walking to Richlands train station at 6pm when she saw a white car turning on Boundary Rd.

A male then sudden grabbed her handbag, with the force causing her to fall to the ground.

The man ran to a vehicle which was then driven off by a female.

Argueta later admitted to being the driver.

Aida Consuelo Argueta helped her former partner in a handbag snatch.

Mr Tsoi said the woman’s purse and bank cards and foreign currency were found at the house where Argueta was.

The court heard foreign currency stolen in the bag snatch was found hidden in a lounge.

Magistrate Peter Saggers asked whether the main offender had been charged.

While those details were not before the court, Argueta said she believed her male co-offender had not been charged yet.

Defence lawyer John Wilson said it was fortunate that a more serious charge was not before the court regarding the stealing of the bag.

“She is not the principal offender and we are unsure if he has been dealt with,” Mr Wilson said.

“It was her boyfriend at the time. He was there when police searched when the phone was tracked.”

Mr Wilson said Argueta was born in El Salvador and was now an Australian citizen, and a single mother with two children.

He said she spent 39 days in jail, which was a massive wake-up call to her.

He said the offences was committed while she was in a toxic relationship.

Magistrate Saggers noted the bag snatch victim had fallen to the ground and was fortunate not to have been badly hurt.

Argueta received a total of 10-months jail with immediate parole.

She was fined $1000 for driving when disqualified and was further banned from driving for two years.