Roxburgh Park’s Mariana Papalii caught stealing cars and petrol
A New Zealander with a five-year-old child has been caught stealing a car the day after she was bailed, with a magistrate describing her 26-page criminal history and behaviour as “complicated”.
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A young mum who’s never had a driver’s licence was chased by police through Melbourne’s north in the early hours of the morning after stealing cars, petrol and number plates.
Mariana Papalii, who has an extensive criminal history, stole a car less than 24 hours after she was released on bail, Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court was told.
The 23-year-old Roxburgh Park woman pleaded guilty to a series of charges on Monday, April 27, having been behind bars for 52 days.
The court heard police saw her driving erratically on Strathmerton St, Reservoir, about 4.17am on March 6 in a car she had stolen from a Caulfield street hours earlier.
Senior Constable Michael Kaye said police pulled in front of her with flashing lights, but she reversed to get away, almost colliding with another police car.
She then sped along Whitelaw St, being pursued by police, and was only caught when the car broke down.
The court heard Papalii was wearing gloves and a pair of scissors fell from the car’s ignition when she was arrested.
Papalii also stole a Kia from a Footscray street about 4.30am on January 26 — the day after she was bailed from Heidelberg police station — managing to deactivate its alarm system before getting away.
The following day she was caught on CCTV driving the Kia to a service station on High St, Epping, where she stole 30 litres of petrol.
Papalii’s fingerprints were also found on stolen number plates fixed to a stolen car police recovered in Bundoora on February 1.
The court heard Papalii was placed on a 12-month community corrections order on February 2, which she broke within two days.
Her lawyer, Chris Brydon, told the court she was a New Zealand resident, who had an issue with GHB, and a five-year-old child.
He pointed out Papalii had managed not to offend last year, after spending most of 2018 in jail for charges including aggravated burglary and reckless conduct, and had strong family support.
Magistrate Helen Murphy said Papalii’s 26-page criminal history was long and serious for her young age.
“She’s complicated,” she said.
“It’s really concerning that she’s reoffended so quickly after getting her last order.”
Ms Murphy said it would be easy to give Papalii a prison term, but she wanted to give the young woman a chance to work with the court integrated services program so she could prove herself eligible for another corrections order.
“I think her age entitles her to that opportunity,” she said.
Ms Murphy said she would deliver the sentence on May 11 once the court system had time to assess Papalii for the program.
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