Kelsie and Kayla Sherlock caught shoplifting 359 items from Coles
Two light-fingered sisters who tried to steal more than 350 items from Coles in Keilor and Airport West came undone thanks to their “not very sophisticated” methods, a court has heard. And they’ve been given a strong incentive to curb their ways.
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Two cash-strapped sisters who tried to shoplift more than 350 items from Coles have escaped without a conviction.
Over two consecutive days Kelsie, 24, and Kayla Sherlock, 25, attempted to steal 237 household grocery and baby items from Coles at Keilor Central shopping centre and 122 items from Coles Airport West.
The hauls were valued at $2507. The western suburbs pair pleaded guilty at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on November 12.
The court heard Kayla, a single parent with a three-year-old son, also tried to shoplift more than $2100 worth of children’s toys and board games, hair products, a TV, DVDs and stationery from Big W at Watergardens shopping centre.
Kelsie, a Werribee mum-of-three, was also involved in another attempted theft at Kmart in Pacific Werribee shopping centre when she tried to make off with a bassinet and other items worth $150.
Magistrate Abigail Burchill lambasted the sister’s “not very sophisticated” shoplifting attempts.
“You were bound to get caught,” she told Kayla.
“These are repeat crime sprees, big shopping sprees.
“You said 100 per cent you intended to steal … lots and lots of things.
“There’s a big penalty for this, you could have gone to jail for five years.”
Ms Burchill told Kelsie, who has two prior convictions for theft in 2014, that she was risking everything with her three children by being involved.
“They will be taken off you (if you keep doing this), it isn’t low scale,” she said.
Police prosecutor First Constable Abdul Fakhouri told the court the pair entered Coles in Keilor Central just before 3.30pm on February 15 this year and proceeded to fill a trolley with goods.
They then wheeled the trolley out of the store without attempting to pay and were confronted by Coles employees.
First Constable Fakhouri said the duo ditched the trolley and left the centre, with all 237 items recovered.
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He said the next day the women went to Coles at Westfield Airport West and again filled a trolley with household grocery and baby items.
A witness recognised the sisters and alerted police who arrested them as they attempted to make off with 122 items.
First Constable Fakhouri said Kayla owned up to the crime when caught and told police she had no money and was trying to get food and baby supplies.
The court heard Kelsie admitted to putting items in the trolley but aborted the heist halfway through and sat on a seat outside the store for 15 minutes waiting for her sister to complete the theft.
Both were handed 10-month good behaviour bonds without conviction.