Robert Vaka: Australia Post employee stole $12,000 worth of Apple products

An Australia Post worker and wannabe cop who had fallen on tough times by punting on NRL fixtures has been sentenced after he stole $12,000 worth of Apple products.

An Australia Post worker who had fallen on tough times by punting on NRL fixtures has fronted court after he stole $12,000 worth of Apple products in the search for a quick buck.

Robert Vaka, aka Robert Tasmania, of Campsie, appeared before Bankstown Local Court on Thursday to learn his fate for stealing the Apple products from the Chullora distribution centre, where he was employed as a forklift driver.

Agreed facts tendered to court reveal Vaka was busted after multiple customers complained they were delivered empty packages, and Australia Post noticed items were lighter on the way out than when they arrived.

Vaka spotted Apple products — which had distinct security packaging — in the cages he was supposed to move using his forklift. He would take them out and place them on the back of the forklift, before driving to an area not covered under CCTV.

Vaka would then move the items to his car after removing them from the Australia Post packaging.

Between May 29 to July 14, Vaka stole six iPhones, along with entire boxes of AirPods, nine iPads, and an Apple smartwatch, with a total value of $12,268.

He told police he sold an iPhone 12 on Facebook marketplace for $250, and a 12 Pro Max for $1200, along with giving some items to his mum and family.

On July 13, Australia Post caught him in the act on CCTV and called police, who arrested him as soon as he left the building.

Vaka immediately confessed, admitting $950 in his wallet was from selling the Apple products, and he had taken five additional iPads in the past seven weeks.

His lawyer told the court NRL gambling had been Vaka’s downfall.

“He saw an availability in a way to make quick cash, he embraced that,” the lawyer said.

Vaka was trying to provide for his family by working night shifts to allow him to look after his infant during the day. He had dreams of working for the NSW Police, the court heard.

Magistrate Glenn Walsh told the court the offences were a betrayal of trust given to him by his employer, and the trust in Australia Post to deliver packages.

“That he has lost his dream job of being a police officer is squarely at his feet,” Mr Walsh said.

When sentencing Vaka, Mr Walsh said the Campsie man narrowly avoided a stint in prison.

“But for good character, but for the plea, this would have been a full time custodial sentence,” Mr Walsh said.

“I accept he has some insight into what he did, and realises his selfish and greedy actions put himself and his wife and child at risk.

Instead, Vaka was given an 18 month intensive corrections order, which is a prison sentence served in the community. He was also ordered to undertake rehabilitation for his gambling problem.