Toyworld Greensborough: Samantha Silvy allegedly steals Lego
When a Mill Park woman was allegedly captured on CCTV nicking $800 worth of Lego from toy stores, police stormed her house in search of the missing loot. They didn’t find any blocks, but discovered the woman was already on five sets of bail.
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A Mill Park woman allegedly stole almost $800 worth of Lego after being caught drug driving and driving without a licence.
Samantha Silvy, 28, fought to be granted bail before Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 9, having been taken into custody while already on five sets of bail.
The court heard she was arrested when police raided her home earlier in the day in search of the stolen Lego.
The Lego was nowhere to be found, but officers did allegedly find a stolen bike and a stolen licence which had her photo added to it.
First Constable Georgia Novski told the court Silvy had been caught on CCTV taking $519.95 worth of Lego from Toyworld at Greensborough Plaza on February 23, and $269.93 worth of Lego from Toyworld at Epping Plaza on February 14.
She said on both occasions Silvy had walked into the stores with an empty cardboard box in a trolley, which she had filled with the Lego, before leaving.
Constable Novski said Silvy was sighted at Toyworld Fawkner on March 17 after staff were made aware of the thefts.
The court heard Silvy was also accused of stealing 18 perfumes from Bargain Depot on High St, Epping on October 31.
Silvy was also on bail after being caught driving unlicensed on Darebin Drive, Thomastown on November 28 and after being found driving unlicensed and under the influence of methamphetamine on Childs Rd, Epping on July 12.
Silvy also allegedly stole a customer’s mobile phone from TK Maxx Warringal Plaza on May 10, 2019.
The court heard Silvy’s lawyer had to prove there were exceptional circumstances that meant she should be released from custody because she had repeatedly been arrested.
“There’s a very high bar she has to get over,” Magistrate Jennifer Tregent said.
“Were all the bags of Lego and unlicensed driving worth it?”
Silvy’s lawyer said Silvy, who had a lengthy criminal history from when she was using heroin before the birth of her daughter six years ago, had returned to these ways because of trouble in her relationship.
He said Silvy’s offending before the court was relatively low-level, and any time she spent waiting for a court date would likely exceed a sentence she would be given.
Ms Tregent said she didn’t agree the Lego theft was such a minor offence.
“It’s a large amount of Lego that’s been wheeled out of the shops,” she said.
“Some might say well it’s only stealing Lego. Well, the rest of us pay more for Lego because people steal Lego.”
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But Ms Tregent found the COVID-19 outbreak meant there were exceptional circumstances, because Silvy’s case would be delayed and her daughter would not be able to visit her in custody.
“The person who would most be harmed by the continued incarceration of Ms Silvy would be her six-year-old child,” she said.
Ms Tregent banned Silvy from attending Greensborough Plaza, and ordered she do fortnightly drug screens and abide by a 9pm-7am curfew.