Country Road thief: Chanelle Allen sold stolen Mimco goods on Facebook to help pay rent
A Point Cook mother and former clothing retail supervisor who sold thousands of dollars worth of up-market fashion accessories online hasn’t repaid a cent despite several luxurious overseas holidays. This is what she said she spent the money on instead.
Wyndham Leader
Don't miss out on the headlines from Wyndham Leader. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Country Road supervisor with a penchant for luxurious travel sold stolen fashion accessories worth $22,000 on Facebook because she had to pay rent, a court has heard.
Chanelle Allen was a supervisor at the Truganina Country Road Group distribution centre between May and August 2016 when she thieved dozens of Mimco goods.
Allen claimed she passed the goods – including watches, purses, bracelets, necklaces, jewellery and handbags – to her ex-partner who peddled the loot via Facebook “buy, swap and sell” pages.
The racket came unstuck after a Country Road Group retail risk manager spotted the items on Facebook.
Allen was hauled in for a meeting and shown CCTV footage of her thievery.
She admitted her crimes but was not formally charged by police until May, 2019.
Allen told police she “couldn’t recall” how many items she stole and that she only made a “couple thousands of dollars”.
Allen, 31, pleaded guilty in the Werribee Magistrates’ Court on January 14 to multiple theft charges.
The mother of two said through her counsel that she was going through financial difficulties at the time including rent pressures and child expenses.
However, Magistrate Mike Wardell questioned how Allen was able to afford an overseas holiday to Fiji during the time of her offending.
Magistrate Wardell also referred to Allen’s failure to repay Country Road as an “elephant in the room”.
“Is it genuine remorse or are you just sorry for being caught,” he said.
Allen, who has taken several overseas jaunts since her crime despite earning only $750 a week as factory worker, has not paid a cent back to Country Road.
She proudly promotes her travel escapades on social media under the handle “thekiwiadventurer”.
These trips include the Fiji sojourn, Thailand in 2016 and 2018, Hong Kong and an all encompassing 2018 journey to Europe which took in luxurious spots such as Paris, Prague, Berlin, Spain, Venice, Switzerland, Croatia and the Greek Islands.
Prosecutor Mathew Crees said “something didn’t smell right”.
“Something is clearly wrong here,” Mr Crees said.
“People just don’t go to Europe.”
Magistrate Wardell said Allen “succumbed to the temptations”.
“(You said) this is easy, I can take these goods, sell them on eBay (sic) … I can get ahead,” he said.
“You’re bigger than that, better than that.
“Significantly preying on your employer (is a serious breach of trust).
MORE SOCIALITE STOLE MILLIONS TO FLY-IN HOLLYWOOD STARS
JETSETTER ACCOUNTANT BLEW CASH ON METH, GAMBLING
BOOKKEEPER MUM RORTED TO COVER METH ADDICTION
“You systematically shipped property which you sold for your own benefit.
“This isn’t the behaviour you want your children to see.”
Allen was sentenced with conviction to a 12-month community corrections order.