COVID-19 shutdown pushed beautician to steal yoga pants

A DOWN-AND-OUT beautician made several failed attempts to steal from a Grand Central store.

A woman attempted to steal yoga pants from Big W. . Picture: Nicholas Falconer

THE height of the COVID-19 shutdown curtailed a Toowoomba beautician's income, but she still needed two new pairs of yoga pants, a kid's exercise DVD and a Bluetooth karaoke speaker.

Rather than pay for the items Belinda Jane Tetzlaff decided she would bluff her way through the self-service checkout at the Grand Central Big W by only paying for a pair of slippers.

The ruse failed and the 37-year-old woman found herself before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court yesterday, pleading guilty to unauthorised dealing with shop goods.

Police Prosecutor Chris Willson told the court Tetzlaff entered the store about 10.40am, on May 14.

"About 11.20am she was intercepted by staff as she attempted to leave the store, pushing a trolley containing goods."

Staff asked Tetzlaff to provide proof of purchase whereupon she used the self-service check out and purchased only a pair of slippers.

About an hour later, Tetzlaff was intercepted a second time as she attempted to the leave the store with a laden trolley.

The court heard Tetzlaff had concealed about $106 worth of goods, included the yoga pants, DVD and speaker.

Snr Const Willson said Tetzlaff told police she bought the items earlier.

"Big W conducted an audit of the goods and determined the defendant had not been sold those items and several of the items had not been sold in several weeks," he said.

Acting in her defence, duty lawyer Jag MacDonald said his client was unable to work during the COVID-19 shut down.

"Her income was affected significantly, and she made a stupid decision."

Mr MacDonald said his client did eventually pay for the goods, albeit after she was charged with stealing them.

Acting Magistrate Roger Stark noted Tetzlaff's short but relevant criminal history, that included previous convictions for dishonesty offences.

He issued a $250 fine but did not record a conviction.

Originally published as COVID-19 shutdown pushed beautician to steal yoga pants