Crystal Lee Hack: Hotel cleaner stole grog to fuel her drug habit

A former hotel cleaner has faced court after stealing bottles of Johnnie Walker Black and stealing guest’s cheque books to fuel her drug habit.

A Mildura woman has faced court after stealing bottles of booze from a Dan Murphy’s store in Dandenong to fuel her drug habit.

Crystal Lee Hack, 32, pleaded guilty at Mildura Magistrates’ Court on June 28 to charges of stealing two Commonwealth bank cheques and 12 bottles of Johnnie Walker black.

The penalty would have been stricter however Magistrate Michael Coghlan gave Ms Hack full credit for the two months she’s already spent in jail due to these offences that date back to 2021.

Police prosecutor Kirsten Simm told the court that on 20 September 2021 Ms Hack and two co-accused stole two cases of Johnnie Walker Black from the Dan Murphy’s in Dandenong totalling $1078.

Senior Constable Simm said Hack later told police that she did this quite often to help fuel a drug habit.

“We would take bottles of alcohol to sell on the street to buy drugs,” she said.

On another date in 2021 Hack stole the cheque book from one of the guests staying at the hotel where she worked and made cheques out to herself and the co-accused ranging from $1500 to more than $3000.

Hack‘s lawyer Asha Zonner said her offending was linked to a history of drug dependence but she has since managed to break the habit despite challenges.

“The history shows dependency from an earlier age,” she said.

“She has remained abstinent from heroin use … this is the longest period she’s been off heroin and out of custody.”

Crystal Lee Hack pleaded guilty to stealing two Commonwealth bank cheques and 12 bottles of Johnnie Walker black.

Ms Zonner said her client had already served two months in prison relating to the offence.

In his sentence, Mr Coghlan gave credit to Hack’s efforts to stay clean and acknowledged the time served, but still acknowledged the seriousness of the offending.

“It seems like the last 18 months have been the best period in your life,” he said.

“When you’re working for someone and then you‘re biting the hand that feeds you by taking those checks and going to the effort of putting them in the account, it’s a pretty rotten thing to do.”

“So on that matter, it’s my view that it’s not appropriate to give you a bond or say ‘Oh I’ll release you. I think there has been a significant punishment.”

Hack was ordered to do 40 hours of unpaid community work and fined $100.

She was also ordered to pay back Dan Murphy’s and the owner of the cheque book.