Robert and Wendy Bowman: Mildura siblings steal from Coles, Woolworths trolleys

A “career thief” and her heroin-addicted brother who stole from unsuspecting Mildura shoppers viewed their actions as a “victimless crime”.

Handbags and purses were taken from supermarket trolleys in Mildura last year.

A brother and sister were behind a string of thefts targeting Mildura supermarket shoppers, a court has heard.

Mildura siblings Robert Wayne Bowman, 62, and Wendy Bowman, 50, were on Monday sentenced at Mildura Magistrates’ Court.

Each pleaded guilty to multiple theft charges, while Robert also pleaded guilty to trespass and obtaining property by deception.

A police prosecutor last week told the court Robert stole from supermarket shoppers on six occasions between February 16 and March 16, 2020.

The court heard during one incident at the Coles on Fifteenth St, a customer was using the scales when Robert stole her purse, which had been in her shopping trolley.

Another woman went to pay for her groceries at the Mildura Central Woolworths before noticing her purse was gone.

Soon after the Woolworths theft withdrawals of $800 and $1000 were made, and Robert was captured on CCTV wearing a beanie and glasses.

Another victim had a wallet stolen from the same store before being alerted by her bank to a $1000 withdrawal.

The court heard one victim had their handbag hanging off the side of a trolley when it was stolen.

On March 16, Wendy was at a Coles supermarket in Mildura when she took a handbag containing a wallet from a victim’s trolley.

The victim only noticed it was gone when she went to pay.

Soon after a series of transactions were made either using bank cards in the wallet.

A $100 withdrawal was made at a Bendigo Bank ATM, followed by two $500 withdrawals outside PJ’s supermarket.

The court was told Robert was captured on CCTV attempting to hide his identity when making withdrawals.

Optus and Telstra charge cards were also purchased.

It was revealed both Wendy and Robert described their actions to police as “opportunistic”.

The court heard Robert told police he would throw away the purses and use the money to gamble at the TAB, viewing it as a victimless crime.

Robert’s defence lawyer said he was significantly drug affected, including drugs that had been prescribed to him, at the time of the offending.

The lawyer said Robert genuinely didn’t remember his actions and “took responsibility” after being shown CCTV footage.

He said Robert had battled a lifelong heroin addiction and during the offending had relapsed for the first time in eight to nine years.

Wendy’s defence lawyer said she had made “a real attempt to turn her life around” in recent years, aside from the incident last March.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan said the victims were just going about their normal business when they had their personal lives invaded.

He said the purses and handbags may have contained pictures of loved ones and details of their home address.

Mr Coghlan took issue with the crime being described as “victimless” and said Robert’s offending was the more serious matter, requiring an immediate term of imprisonment.

Robert was convicted of burglary and theft and sentenced to eight months in jail.

On his remaining charges, he was sentenced to a community corrections order upon his release.

Mr Coghlan said Wendy was a “career thief” with a long list of prior convictions, although he took into account her offending took place on one date and had one victim.

On her six theft charges, Wendy was sentenced to a community corrections order for 12 months, requiring 200 hours of unpaid community work and treatment for drugs, alcohol and mental health.