Aaron Shaw: Olympic Hotel Preston man allegedly walks out with alcohol
A Preston man has allegedly stolen thousands of dollars of alcohol and groceries by repeatedly hitting up bottle shops and stores close to home. And it’s surprising that his alleged brazen tactics have kept working.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Preston man’s allegedly shameless attitude towards theft has allegedly led to him waltzing out of stores with thousands of dollars worth of alcohol and groceries.
For more than a year Aaron Shaw has allegedly been regularly taking items from shops’ shelves and walking straight out the door, not making any effort to hide the alleged thefts.
The 30-year-old fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, October 14 to have shot at bail, with a magistrate having refused to release him when he was arrested on September 21.
Police alleged Shaw had again repeatedly targeted stores in Darebin, particularly bottle shops and convenience stores, such as BWS Preston and United Petroleum.
He was facing charges for more than 12 separate thefts since September 2019, in which he allegedly got away with more than $2500 worth of goods.
He allegedly told an employee at Preston’s Olympic Hotel bottle shop: “I’m not paying for this,” as he walked past the counter with almost $90 of alcohol on July 23.
Magistrate Jennifer Tregent said Shaw’s “cavalier attitude” of continuing to “help himself” to stores was completely unacceptable.
The court heard he had been drinking up to 40 standard drinks a day and was a heroin user.
His lawyer told the court Shaw had suffered significant abuse in his childhood, and efforts to get him into a residential rehabilitation facility in recent weeks had failed due to shortages created by COVID-19.
But the court heard he’d had time to sober up and reflect during his three weeks behind bars.
Ms Tregent agreed to bail him so he could engage with help warning him he actually needed to abide by it.
“This is your last chance,” she said.
MORE: VIOLENT THIEF HOLDS UP SEX SHOP TO SCORE CASH FOR DRUGS
‘LUCKY HE WASN’T SHOT DEAD’: HOW FIRE ENDED IN DRAMATIC ARREST