Boot Bandits: Paula, Zowie Burford commit stealing spree just hours after court date

A Warwick mum and daughter busted in a bungled attempt to sneak into Queensland earlier this year, stole hundreds of dollars of items just hours after fronting court for similar dishonesty.

A Warwick mother and daughter busted in a bungled border jumping expedition are in hot water again after being nabbed on a stealing spree just hours after fronting court.

Paula Joy Burford and her daughter Zowie Heather Burford went to Pacific Fair on October 18 and stole $530 worth of clothes from Target, the same day they were sentenced for similar offences.

The Warwick Magistrates Court heard the duo were seen by staff as Zowie loaded up her pram with 30 items while her mother stashed 10 clothing items in her bag.

Police confronted the pair as they made their way to their vehicle in the carpark, with officers asking Zowie what was in her pram, which was veiled by a large blanket.
The 34-year-old told police it was a sleeping baby, but police removed the blanket to only find the stash of stolen clothes.

All of the tags had been removed from the stolen pieces.

other and daughter duo Paula and Zowie Burford, dubbed the Boot Bandits after a bungled border jumping expedition, have been slammed over a stealing spree just hours after fronting court.

Police prosecutor Ken Wiggan slammed the duo, who made national headlines as the “Boot Bandits” this year when they were each fined $4000 after being caught trying to sneak Paula over the Queensland border in the boot of a towed car.

Sergeant Wiggan said the short time frame between sentenced for dishonesty offences and the stealing spree was offensive to the court.

“They both appeared in Southport Magistrates Court for UTAG (unauthorised dealing with shop goods) offences that day, so a stealing offence the afternoon after going to court was a slap in the face of the legal system,” he said.

Sergeant Wiggan asked Magistrate Julian Noud to order the women pay the $1000 recognisance they were subject to for the original offences, in addition to a fine for the Target thefts.

Defence lawyer Amber Acreman told the court the pair had struggled through a tough time, which was exacerbated by 49-year-old Paula’s medical issues and resulting financial issues.

Ms Acreman told the court Zowie had five children in her care and each of the women were receiving Centrelink payments as income.

They each pleaded guilty to one count of stealing.

They were each fined $450 and ordered to pay the $1000 bond for the earlier offences. No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Boot Bandits: Paula, Zowie Burford commit stealing spree just hours after court date