Four Woolworths shoplifters face Yeppoon Magistrates Court

There were only 19 names on the court list for the day and four of those people pleaded guilty to shoplifting in Central Queensland.

Four people who shoplifted from Woolworths Yeppoon have faced court. Generic image.

Magistrate Cameron Press summed it up when he said: “The prevalence of this offence must be a reflection of the difficult financial times some people are in.”

Mr Press made the comment in Yeppoon Magistrates Court last Thursday as he sentenced a fourth person for the day, Tingrong He, 28, for shoplifting.

Tingrong He was caught in the act on August 21 taking $117.70 worth of items from Woolworths at Yeppoon Central Shopping Centre.

She was fined $150 and no conviction was recorded.

Earlier in the day in the same court, co-offenders Elizabeth Anne Merry, 63, and Anak Agung Kumala Setia Dewi, 38, also pleaded guilty to shoplifting respectively.

The court heard on August 22, Merry and Kumala Setia Dewi were together when they went to Woolworths Yeppoon.

It was told they only placed three items on the checkout and left the store without paying for other items worth $377.

Police found the pair before they left the complex.

A Woolworths store. Generic image.

Police prosecutor Claudia Neill-Ballantine said both Merry and Kumala Setia Dewi apologised to police and said they were “going through tough times.”

The stolen items were recovered.

Both women had no criminal histories.

Each was placed on a six-month good behaviour order with a $300 recognisance.

No convictions were recorded.

Niah-Lilly Stephen, 19, was another who pleaded guilty to shoplifting.

The court heard on August 21, Stephen was at Woolworths Yeppoon when she concealed a hairbrush and an eyelash set (total value $22.50) and left the store without paying.

The prosecution said police caught up with Stephen as she was walking to the shopping centre exit and the stolen items were recovered.

Stephen had no criminal history.

Solicitor Oscar Millroy said Stephen was a mine worker and she was ashamed and remorseful for what she did.

She was fined $150 and no conviction was recorded.