Tuggerah Home Co: Tunupopo Tamarangi, of Merrylands, stole EFTPOS machines, sound bar from Spotlight, The Good Guys

A shoplifter stole knives and EFTPOS machines from one store and a sound bar from another. But here’s why his attempted five-finger discounts ended up a perfect 10 for stupidity.

Tunupopo Tamarangi, 23, of Merrylands, went five-finger discount shopping at Home Co Tuggerah but got pinched at the regional sports fields nearby. Picture: NewsLocal

There are several, almost universal, conventions when it comes to the nefarious art of shoplifting.

Even those diametrically opposed to taking anything without permission understand that keeping a low profile would be among the first and foremost at the top of those unwritten rules.

But that wasn’t going to deter one young ill-considered thief who is now facing the possibility of a lengthy prison stretch after a brazen shoplifting fail at Tuggerah last year.

Tunupopo Tamarangi, 23, of Merrylands, faced Wyong Local Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to three counts of larceny, one count of using an offensive weapon to commit larceny and two unrelated property offences.

Tamarangi is a large man of Pacific Islander appearance who, according to an agreed set of facts, walked into Spotlight at Tuggerah Home Co at 4.12pm on June 23 last year dressed in a “tradie style high visibility shirt that appeared to have blood on the chest”.

Tamarangi probably wasn’t among Spotlight’s highest purchasing demographics, which may have led to him standing out. (File image)

While passing sewing, fabric and other haberdashery supplies, Tamarangi picked up two portable EFTPOS terminals from a service counter and tucked them behind the waistband of his pants.

“The offender also took two knives, being a Wiltshire kitchen knife and an Avanti steak knife, from a shelf within the store and placed them in the waistband of his pants,” the facts state.

A few minutes later he was seen looking around the Tvs at The Good Guys downstairs. (File image).

Four minutes later Tamarangi walked into The Good Guys shop downstairs where he was immediately noticed by staff as he looked around the TVs.

“At this time, one of the staff members announced over the (internal) headset system “He’s picked up one of the sound bars and heading to the exit,” the facts state.

The store manager turned and saw Tamarangi carrying a large sound bar slung over his left shoulder, walking directly towards the front doors of the store bypassing the service counter.

The manager called out words to the effect: “Hey mate, can we help you with that? to which the offender ignored and continued walking towards the front of the shop.

The manager called out a few more times and as Tamarangi got to the exit yelled out one last time “Hey you”.

“At this time, the offender turned towards the victim and was holding a large kitchen knife approximately 20-25cm in length in his right hand,” the facts state.

“The offender was approximately 2-3 metres away from the victim. The offender raised the knife in the direction of the victim and said words to the effect of “What, what are you gonna do?”.

The manager felt shocked and fearing for his safety let Tamarangi walk away with the Samsung 750D sound bar priced at $699.

Police were called and within minutes learned that Tamarangi had been seen nearby at the Central Coast Regional Sporting & Recreation Complex.

Two officers attended and when they saw him carrying a large box on his shoulder chased after him on foot.

They arrested him and recovered the stolen sound bar, knives and two EFTPOS machines.

Tamarangi said little while his Legal Aid solicitor entered guilty pleas on his behalf and he was remanded in custody to face Gosford District Court on March 20 to fix a sentence date.