Iraqi couple lose cash, jewellery in alleged theft after leaving hotel quarantine

An ‘opportunistic’ handbag theft robbed a couple of $50,000 worth of cash and jewellery just after leaving hotel quarantine, a Brisbane court has heard.

A couple who had just emigrated from Iraq had only just left Brisbane hotel quarantine when some of their life savings in cash and jewellery was stolen last week.

The couple told police they were in Grey St, South Brisbane, when the woman put down her handbag, containing $27,000 in cash and $20,000 worth of gold jewellery, to take a photo of the city.

Soon after they walked away the woman realised she did not have the handbag, but when they returned, it was gone.

It will be alleged the bag later was found in a disabled toilet at South Bank, but there was no money in it and only some of the gold jewellery has been recovered.

The couple told police they were about to start a new life in Australia and they had no insurance covering the contents of the bag.

Jaycob Ethan Smith, 27, who was arrested on January 22, was charged over the alleged theft on January 20.

He appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He is facing 10 charges, including stealing, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, supplying dangerous drugs and other drug-related charges, between January 20 and 22.

“It is alleged that (Smith) stole a handbag which contained just under $50,000 worth of jewellery and cash, which was the property of a couple who had just emigrated to Australia,” Magistrate Belinda Merrin said.

“It seemed to be opportunistic.”

Ms Merrin said Smith was found by police in possession of “a not insignificant amount of drugs, having driven a stolen car”.

The police prosecutor said Smith had allegedly committed the 10 offences while on bail for five other offences.

Ms Merrin said the circumstances of the latest alleged offences were serious.

After hearing Smith’s bail application, Ms Merrin said Smith had been under the care of a mental health treatment team, but he had failed to attend treatment on January 12.

She said there needed to be a report about whether he was of sound mind or was acting in a way that significantly reduced his culpability for the offences.

Ms Merrin granted Smith bail, with a condition that he live at an Everton Park address and ordered that he be examined at Prince Charles Hospital’s Mental Health Unit within seven days.

Originally published as Iraqi couple lose cash, jewellery in alleged theft after leaving hotel quarantine