‘Recidivist shoplifter’ Jennifer Frew pleads guilty to Wollongong unit break in, fraud, larceny

A burglar who snuck into the home of two sisters living in Wollongong came unstuck when she left a vital clue at the scene of the crime.

Jennifer Frew pleaded guilty to three charges in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

A burglar snuck into the home of two sisters living in Wollongong, however, her brazen offending came unstuck when she left a vital clue at the scene of the crime.

Jennifer Anne Frew, of Fairy Meadow, faced Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday where she pleaded guilty to an aggravated break and enter committed on the evening of February 29.

The 49-year-old woman, who is on bail, also pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and larceny connected to the same 24-hour period.

Documents tendered in court state two sisters living at a unit on Stewart St, Wollongong had separately gone out for the evening before arriving home at differing times at the early hours of March 1.

Both women left their handbags on a coffee table in the lounge room as was their custom before heading to bed. However, one noticed the glass door leading to the balcony was open and the woman shut it before going to sleep.

Jennifer Frew leaving Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Documents state one of the sisters woke up about 5.30am and noticed her handbag missing and the back door open. She woke her sister with the pair noticing the house keys had been moved and the other handbag, a backpack and headphones had been stolen.

The sisters saw the balcony door had been left open which led to the key piece of evidence connecting Frew to the crime – a pair of Toms canvas shoes which police seized and matched to the offender.

About 7.55am CCTV at Coles Wollongong captured Frew attempting to buy a Samsung Galaxy A14 with one of the victim’s credit cards, however, after unsuccessfully attempting to enter the pin the card was locked.

Jennifer Frew tried to buy a phone from Coles at Wollongong with a stolen credit card.

A few hours later in a separate incident, Frew, who police in court documents described as a “recidivist shoplifter”, was caught stealing from Woolworths in Wollongong.

Documents state she strolled around the store putting items into a basket before transferring some of them to a backpack.

Frew left the story before security, who knew her by name, caught her with a $50 assortment of groceries.

The documents state Frew was on an intensive correction order at the time of the offending.

Frew will appear in Wollongong District Court later this month ahead of her sentencing in 2025. The larceny offence will be dealt with in the Local Court in January.

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