Sophie Karambellas appears in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court after alleged shopping spree on a stolen credit car
A woman who allegedly sparked a police chase after a $1000 shopping spree on an alleged stolen card was five months’ pregnant at the time.
South East
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A woman allegedly caught using a stolen credit card who then got into an alleged car chase with police while five months’ pregnant allegedly with methamphetamines in her system has fronted court.
Sophie Karambellas appeared at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on March 21 after allegedly being caught using a man’s credit card to purchase more than $1000 worth of groceries and gift cards.
The court heard the alleged victim reported the incident to the police on October 10 last year, after his wife noticed a strange purchase from Coles.
The following evening the card was used again at the Bluff Rd Coles in Hampton, and the man reported the purchase to police.
The court heard investigating officers allegedly saw two women exit the Coles location and get into a blue Holden.
After doing a licence plate search, investigating officers found the car’s owner (Karambellas) to allegedly be unlicensed.
The court heard the blue Holden exited the car park and police followed.
After officers turned on lights and sirens, Karambellas allegedly sped up, making no attempt to stop.
The court heard Karambellas allegedly reached up to 100km/h in a 60km/h zone, before allegedly T-boning another car at the Highett Rd/Bluff Rd intersection.
The alleged collision caused the other car to slam into a fence, but Karambellas allegedly continued driving, the court was told.
The court heard officers in pursuit deemed the chase unsafe at this point.
Police pulled over to tend to the person in the other car, who was “extremely shaken up and distraught”.
The court heard shortly after the alleged T-boning incident, Karambellas allegedly crashed the Holden into a fire hydrant on Highett Rd.
It is alleged that Karambellas returned a positive reading for methamphetamines, despite being five months’ pregnant.
The court heard in a police interview, Karambellas allegedly admitted to driving the car, and at being present during the $1000 grocery shop theft spanning two Woolworths stores and multiple service stations.
“I didn’t pay for it, my friend did,” she allegedly told police.
“I just picked the items. They were for a baby shower.”
The court heard police allege Karambellas also admitted to driving the vehicle at the time of the hit and run, allegedly admitting she “didn’t know why she didn’t stop”.
“The cops put the sirens on, I tried to pull over, but I panicked and before I knew it I was light headed and blacked out,” she allegedly said.
“I wanted to stop but it all just happened so fast.”
Police allege Karambellas also admitted to having methamphetamines in her system, the court heard.
“I was trying to numb myself,” she said.
The court heard interviewing officers noted Karambellas allegedly showed “no remorse” during the interviews.
She will return to court at a later date.
gemma.scerri@news.com.au
