Jamahl Hammond pleads guilty to shoplifting from Bunnings at Byron Bay, facing additional assault, wounding charges
A Northern Rivers man with a history of property offending snuck through an unlocked Bunnings side gate and took several trips to load a haul of stolen items into a car.
Police & Courts
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A West Ballina man with a history of property offending snuck through an unlocked Bunnings side gate with an accomplice and loaded a car full of stolen tools. while on parole.
Jamahl Hammond pleaded guilty via video link at Ballina Local Court on Thursday to larceny.
The 22-year-old and co-offender Hannah Roberts stole more than $400 worth of items from Bunnings at Byron Bay.
Hammond and Roberts drove into the business’s car park in a Holden Cruze about 3pm on January 30.
They strolled through the aisles before Hammond stashed a Full Boar 40-piece impact torsion bit set into Robert’s backpack, court documents state.
Roberts took the item to the Holden without paying.
Hammond then placed a Hart five piece 200mm file set, a Hart three-piece 200mm file set and a Trojan 10-piece mini file set into a basket and snuck out the door he entered to unpack the stolen items into the car.
Hammond re-entered two more times, stealing a Companion 468g resealable propane cartridge and Ryobi 18V power washing kit, before he hopped in the car and drove off.
Someone informed a Bunnings worker that stock had been stolen and the offenders left through a nursery gate, which was supposed to be locked.
Staff viewed CCTV footage and reported the incident to police.
Roberts, who was guilty of larceny, was fined $800 and ordered to pay Bunnings $40 in compensation.
Hammond was on parole until 2024 when he offended and “is a prolific property theft offender”, police state in the documents.
Hammond faces additional charges of reckless wounding, using a weapon to commit an offence and two counts of common assault. He has entered not guilty pleas.
He is due to be sentenced for larceny on September 7.
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