Warwick crime: Frauds and thieves and their bad decisions exposed
From a man who racked up $7000 damages in a destructive theft to a drug-dealing cleaner stealing from motel guests, here are 10 residents who faced Warwick courts this past year.
Police & Courts
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Dozens of thieves and fraudsters are brought before the Warwick courts each year, with some managing to walk away with a fine while others are left staring down the barrel of jail time.
From a man who racked up more than $7000 damages in a destructive post office theft to serial offenders who only just avoided a stint behind bars, these are 10 Warwick thieves and fraudsters caught out within the past year.
WARWICK MAN FACES JAIL TIME OVER BRAZEN POST OFFICE BREAK-IN
Wayne Christopher McAuley forced his way into the Warwick post office by smashing a window at the back of the building in the early hours of February 15.
The 38-year-old stuffed 31 new mobile phones and other electronic goods such as AirPods into a bag, with the stolen products worth $6191 in total.
The bumbling thief’s hurried getaway proved his own undoing when police found a bag containing identification belonging to McAuley in an alcove behind the post office.
The Warwick court was told McAuley caused another $1458 in damages to the broken window.
McAuley pleaded guilty to one count each of entering premises to commit an indictable offence and possessing a drug utensil.
He was sentenced to 12 months’ jail with immediate parole, and ordered to pay $2000 of the total $7649 owed in restitution.
MAN FLEECES NEIGHBOUR, TRIES TO PAWN STOLEN ITEMS
Brandon James McCormick was handed a 12-month probation order after pleading guilty to stealing almost $4000 worth of belongings from his neighbour’s home.
The 24-year-old forced entry to the other man’s house on Forde Street, Allora between March 25-27, picking up two guitars, a watch, hand tools, and a guitar amplifier worth $3600.
Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said McCormick took the stolen guitars and amp to the Cash Converters store in Toowoomba City, where he pawned them for $300.
McCormick pleaded guilty to one count each of entering a dwelling and committing an indictable offence, fraud, possessing dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, and possessing drug utensils.
SERIAL ROSE CITY THIEF SLAPPED WITH JAIL SENTENCE
Repeat Warwick thief Raymond George Alldridge was back before the courts yet again after flouting his ban from Rose City Shoppingworld to go on a stealing spree.
The 44-year-old hit Big W, Woolworths, and the Reject Shop in April last year, stealing items totalling hundreds of dollars from the retailers.
Warwick Magistrates Court was told the man was also busted carrying a knife, needle, and clipseal bags in his backpack.
Sergeant Wiggan said Alldridge had an “extensive history” of similar crimes and pushed for him to be given a jail sentence as punishment.
Alldridge pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing, two of trespass, one of possessing a knife in public and one of failing to dispose of a needle.
He was sentenced to jail for two months but released on immediate parole.
MAN DEFRAUDS INSURER IN DESPERATE BID TO COVER GAMBLING DEBTS
Stan John Slabosz claimed it was “pure desperation” that drove him to file a false insurance claim worth almost $30,000 as a means of covering his gambling debts.
The 64-year-old abandoned his family caravan on an isolated piece of land outside Warwick on August 5 last year, then returned home and reported it as stolen to receive a $28,375 payout.
The Warwick court was told the father-of-three needed the money to cover the gambling debts he’d accrued over the past five years, which were in excess of $30,000.
Slabosz pleaded guilty to one count of fraud. He was sentenced to jail for four months, wholly suspended for 18 months.
He was ordered to pay the full $28,375 restitution to his insurer.
MAN CLAIMS HE STUMBLED ACROSS STOLEN ITEMS
Joshua Dewayne Oliver claimed the stolen power tools worth $2000 discovered in his house were found in a park.
Police raided the 40-year-old’s home in December last year, where they uncovered eight power tools reported stolen from the back of a ute only the day before.
Warwick Magistrates Court heard the items included a cordless blower, grinder, multi-tool, planner, reciprocating saw, a nail gun, and a battery.
Police prosecutor Ken Wiggan said Oliver told investigators he found the power tools in a container in the park and decided to keep them for himself, rather than contact police or the owner.
Sergeant Wiggan said he found Oliver’s story “difficult to believe”, even though there was no evidence tying him to the original theft.
Oliver pleaded guilty to one count of possessing tainted property and was put on probation for six months.
SERIAL WARWICK THIEF, FRAUDSTER STRIKES AGAIN
It was third time unlucky for repeat offender Taylah Sherrie Lecomber, with the mother fronting Warwick Magistrates Court yet again for trying to make off with a free box of laxatives.
The Warwick woman paid for most of her items from Priceline on February 26, but peeled the tag off the bottom of the laxatives before leaving the store with it in her trolley.
This was the third theft committed by the mother within the past year, with Lecomber pleading guilty in March to defrauding another mum on Facebook and stealing dozens of items from Target.
Lecomber pleaded guilty to one count of stealing, and was fined $300 in addition to paying $15.49 to Priceline in restitution.
MAN BLAMES DRUG-FUELLED STATE FOR BRAZEN SERVO THEFT
A Warwick man claimed he was under the influence of drugs when he pinched hundreds of dollars in cash while a servo employee’s back was turned.
Anthony Wayne Brown went to the United service station in Warwick at about 5.45pm on February 20, where the staff member behind the register was counting money.
Sergeant de Lissa said Brown asked to purchase cigarettes, then reached over the counter and grabbed $400 in cash when the employee turned away to get the item.
The Warwick court heard the 40-year-old paid for his cigarettes and left the store before the staff member realised the money had been stolen, but was eventually nabbed by police.
Brown pleaded guilty to one count of stealing. He was fined $350 and ordered to pay $400 in restitution.
DRUG DEALING CLEANER STEALS FROM MOTEL GUESTS
A probation order for prior drug offences wasn’t enough to deter Nicole Marie Horton from breaking into four rooms at the Murray Gardens Motel while working as a cleaner.
The 42-year-old stole a Nintendo Switch, Bluetooth speakers, earpods, a Calvin Klein satchel, $30 cash, denim shorts, and cigarettes from guests’ belongings in the last two weeks of January.
Police raided the mother-of-seven’s home on January 25, where they found the stolen items along with 0.1g of ice, 0.6 of marijuana, and texts in Horton’s phone revealing conversations about the supply of marijuana.
Stanthorpe Magistrates Court heard Horton continued to work at the motel and was held in “high regard” by the owners.
Horton pleaded guilty to five counts of supplying drugs, four counts of entering a dwelling to commit an offence, and another five drug offences.
She was sentenced to jail for five months and 14 days, but was released on immediate parole.
MAN TAKES STOLEN CREDIT CARD ON FRAUDULENT SPENDING SPREE
It took David Mark Miller was placed on probation for 12 months after racking up more than $800 on a stolen credit card in just 10 days.
The 57-year-old was given the credit card between January 1 and January 8 last year, and started making purchases on June 7.
Sergeant Wiggan said the man went bought alcohol at the Country Club Hotel, tobacco from the newsagency, and clothing from a workwear shop.
Stanthorpe Magistrates Court heard a $87 State of Origin memorabilia book brought the spending spree’s total to $845.37.
Miller pleaded guilty to 10 counts of fraud, two counts of drug driving, and one count each of receiving tainted property, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils, and possessing a restricted item.
He was also disqualified from driving for one year and ordered to pay full restitution.
BIZARRE THEFT, CRIME SPREE EARNS MAN JAIL SENTENCE
Corey John Coombes only narrowly avoided time behind bars after a string of petty crimes that included the unusual theft of tampons from Priceline.
The 31-year-old stole feminine hygiene products from Warwick Priceline by hiding them beneath other purchased items in June.
Sergeant de Lissa told the court Coombes had stolen artificial grass from a Gatton property and fled on foot from officers trying to approach him within the same week.
Coombes pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing and one count each of obstructing police, possessing drugs, failing to appear, possessing an item connected to a crime, and speeding.
He pleaded guilty to a further three counts of possessing drug utensils.
Coombes was sentenced to two months’ jail with immediate release on parole. He was also fined $1516, ordered to pay an additional $407.15 restitution, and disqualified from driving for two years and nine months.
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