Cameras capture Straddie chippy stealing meat and veg from closed Cleveland shopping centre
An unemployed southeast Queensland carpenter nearly lost a thumb to two pitbulls after he was arrested for a drunken early morning raid at a closed shopping centre.
Redlands Coast
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A 50-YEAR-OLD carpenter who, a court heard, crept through a shopping centre in the dead of night like a drunken ninja stealing hundreds of dollars in meat, vegetables and perfume nearly had his thumb ripped off by two pitbulls.
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Appearing at the Cleveland Magistrates Court today Brendon Fredrick Mancktelow pleaded guilty to a string of charges including entering premises with intent, stealing and entering premises and committing an indictable offence.
The court heard a drunk and hungry Mancktelow was captured on CCTV riding his bicycle into the underground parking area at Cleveland Central Shopping Centre at 1am on April 19 where he “manipulated” a lift to gain entry to the closed facility.
The North Stradbroke man’s progress was followed on camera as, with face covered by a scarf, he stole $154 worth of produce from Cleveland Discount Fruit Barn and numerous packets of meat totalling $417 from Johnno’s Cleveland Butchery.
The court heard Mancktelow also stole perfume, all of which he loaded into a plastic bin.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tetley said the defendant crouched behind display counters to avoid detection by staff working at the centre’s Coles.
At 10am Mancktelow was captured again on CCTV driving a distinctive vehicle away from a local service station without paying for $50 in fuel.
The court heard he was unlicensed at the time in an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.
Sgt Tetley said the defendant claimed upon his arrest at Toondah Harbour on May 23 to have worn the scarf as a precaution against COVID-19.
The police prosecutor said the offending had a very real impact on the businesses which had been doing it tough during the pandemic.
Defence solicitor Lyle Parker said his client, who had been hospitalised for four days following a mauling by two pitbulls in an unrelated incident after the offending, had fully co-operated with police.
The court heard the defendant had been struggling after being out of work since September last year but had since gained future job prospects.
Magistrate Deborah Vasta said the offending was serious but acknowledged it would have been pretty funny to see Mancktelow creep through the facility like a ninja.
Mancktelow said he was deeply ashamed at his actions and was more than willing to repay the community and the businesses affected.
The defendant was convicted and sentenced to 40 hours of community service and ordered to pay $621 in restitution.