Woolworths Epping: Serial shoplifter packs his dacks with stolen goods

Staff at an Epping supermarket who pulled up a shoplifter with a suspicious package in his pants discovered a haul of items — including lamb cutlets, chocolates and a cake — which left a magistrate struggling to understand how it all fit.

Woolworths staff stopped him as he tried to leave the store.

A serial shoplifter was busted with a suspicious bulge in his pants which turned out to be a haul so impressive, it left a magistrate asking “I can’t understand how you managed to put so many items down your pants”.

Miltiadis Barbas, 54, entered the Epping Woolworths on Friday, October 4, and filled his strides with goodies including lamb cutlets, chocolates and a Cadbury freddo cake, Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court has heard.

Barbas pleaded guilty to stealing the items at the checkout. Generic pic

The court heard he went to the supermarket’s self-check-outs and paid for $53 worth of items, while he hid $102.40 worth of unpaid goods down his pants and into his shopping bags.

Waiting staff pounced on the Barbas after he left the centre.

Magistrate Jennifer Tregent noted to the court on Thursday, March 12: “That’s a lot of stuff”

Ms Tregent said she didn’t know how Barbas had thought he wouldn’t get caught.

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“I can’t understand how you managed to put so many items down your pants,” she said.

Ms Tregent said theft was unfair on the community, with everyone else having to wear the costs.

“We all pay in the end,” she said.

Ms Tregent handed him an $800 fine, which she said could be converted into community work, referencing his unemployment.

She warned him any future shoplifting would run the risk of a prison sentence with his history of shop thefts.

Barbas said he was old enough to understand.

“It won’t be happening again,” he said.