Courtney-Ann Watkins, Haydn Farrell plead guilty to stealing at the Sunshine Plaza

A young couple has had their stealing exploits thwarted by shoppers after a woman was involved in a foot chase through the Sunshine Plaza over an unpaid phone bill.

Courtney-Ann Watkins leaves Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A young couple has been dramatically taken down in a citizen's arrest in Sunshine Plaza following their separate shoplifting escapades.

Courtney-Ann Watkins, 20, and Haydn James Farrow, 21, were held down by members of the public at the Maroochydore shopping centre following a bizarre exchange at a mobile phone shop.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard the circumstances leading up to police arriving after the pair pleaded guilty to stealing on Monday.

Police prosecutor Bec Lambert said the Caboolture South woman visited the mobile phone shop about 1pm on September 11 where the owner was able to repair her broken phone screen among other issues.

Senior Constable Lambert said the staff member fixed Watkins’ phone for $480, however as he left it on the counter to charge, she grabbed it and left without paying.

The court was told this led to a foot chase between the 20-year-old and the phone shop owner. It ended in an altercation on the lower floor of the Sunshine Plaza, with Watkins throwing the phone to her boyfriend.

Watkins leaving court on Monday.

The police prosecutor said her boyfriend caught the device however, he was then tackled by a member of the public.

Police rushed to the scene three minutes later after they received a disturbance call about a person being restrained in the Coles car park.

She was arrested and later charged.

Her partner, who the court heard was Farrell, was charged with stealing grocery items from Coles the same day before he was also held down by local shoppers until officers arrived.

She pleaded guilty to stealing.

Duty lawyer Katie Paterson, who represented the pair, said Watkins put the phone in for a quote with the shop deciding to work on it. She then “freaked out” as she knew she could not pay and ran.

Ms Paterson said the Landsborough man was only taking the food items out of necessity.

The court heard Watkins and Farrow, who went to high school in Caloundra and Coolum Beach, were both currently couch surfing.

Ms Paterson said the Caboolture South woman previously worked as a hairdresser while the Landsborough man used to work as a bricklayer.

Watkins had a limited criminal history while Farrow had entries of property offending, and was also banned from the Sunshine Plaza for two years.

Acting magistrate Janelle Boegheim said the mobile phone shop was simply “trying to make a living” with it not being their obligation for her to have the convenience of having a phone.

Ms Boegheim however accepted the pair had fallen on hard times.

Watkins was fined $250 and ordered to pay $480 compensation, with no conviction recorded.

Farrow was ordered to complete 40 hours’ community service.

Originally published as Courtney-Ann Watkins, Haydn Farrell plead guilty to stealing at the Sunshine Plaza