Thief who burgled Carrum Downs house had prior for stealing cash from a dead man’s wallet
A burglar who broke into a house to find cigarettes after drinking at a Carrum Downs pub was on a community corrections order at the time — for a crime so low it’s almost unbelievable.
South East
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A thief who broke into a house while a couple slept inside was on a corrections order at the time for stealing cash from a dead man’s wallet, a court has heard.
Amanda Louise Rawlinson pleaded guilty via video link to aggravated burglary, theft, drug possession and court order breaches at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The court heard Rawlinson had been drinking at the Sands Hotel in Carrum Downs until the early hours of July 18.
She left the pub about 5.45am, walked to a car in a nearby street and broke into a parked car, stealing three lottery tickets, a compressor and a beige bag.
Rawlinson wandered to a nearby house and broke in through a rear sliding door, but was caught and detained by the couple who had woken up.
She told police she broke into the car and house to “find cigarettes”, but thought the people would be asleep and not known she had been there.
The female victim has been left so traumatised by the aggravated burglary she has nightmares about hearing people walking upstairs, and was considering moving house.
Rawlinson was on a community corrections order at the time for her part in stealing cash from the wallet of a dead man.
She and another offender took the money and left the scene without reporting the man’s death in January, 2018.
Her defence lawyer said Rawlinson, a disability support pensioner, had long-term mental health issues, had been homeless at times and alcohol had contributed to her offending.
Rawlinson told the court she regretted her crimes and wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
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Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said the burglary had hugely impacted an innocent person.
Mr Vandersteen referred to the victim’s impact statement, saying the female homeowner was “paralysed” with anxiety after the burglary and felt withdrawn and isolated.
“She (the female victim) felt personally violated by you,” Mr Vandersteen said.
“These are victims that have had their lives changed, you have had a very substantial effect on people’s lives.”
Mr Vandersteen said the fact Rawlinson was on a corrections order for a “high-end theft” of taking money from a dead man’s wallet was an aggravating concern.
Rawlinson was jailed for five months, minus 34 days already served in custody. She was convicted and fined $1500.