Household items pushed through a cut hole in the fence of the Bunnings garden centre

Bunnings staff who followed a father on a sneaky trip to the back of the garden centre with a trolley load of loot uncovered his calculated scheme involving a back fence.

A court north of Brisbane has heard a Rothwell man’s attempt to smuggle items valued over $2000 out of Bunnings.

Brent Simon Palinski, 38, from Rothwell faced Redcliffe Magistrate Court on September 19 charged with attempted stealing.

The court heard on August 11, 2022, Bunnings Rothwell staff observed Palinski with three Dyson vacuums, a Ryobi chainsaw and other hardware items in his trolley.

Staff saw Palinski push the trolley into the rear of the garden centre, where he was seen pushing items from the trolley into a pre-cut hole in the chain wire fencing, before walking out of the garden centre with his small child.

Police Prosecutor David Pollock said Palinski then walked around to where the items had been pushed through the fence to retrieve the items.

38-year-old Brent Palenski faced Redcliffe Magistrate Court after attempting to steal from Bunnings Rothwell. Picture: Brent Palenski/Facebook

“He was startled by the lost prevention officer standing there with the items,” Mr Pollock said.

Palinski then walked to his car and left.

All items valued at $2150.50 were recovered by Bunnings staff.

“It was stupid, I wasn’t thinking,” Mr Palinski said.

“It’s not something I usually do, it was just an opportune moment.”

Palinski pleaded guilty and Magistrate Paul Byrne convicted and fined Palinski $2000.