Toowoomba shoplifters: 11 people convicted of stealing offences from stores

Sick of light-fingered thieves making off with their products, a Toowoomba adult store has found a way to scare off potential shoplifters. WATCH THE VIDEOS.

For anyone working in retail, light-fingered shoppers leaving with more than what they paid for is a constant concern.

In an effort to combat the problem, some businesses have come up with creative solutions to deter would-be thieves from targeting their stores.

Toowoomba’s Love Heart Adult Shop is one business that has looked to social media as a way of hopefully making people think twice about shoplifting.

Manager Ash Sturmer said they’ve posted CCTV footage of alleged shoplifters for the past two years with some humour but a stern message.

“We know things are a little hard right now (no pun intended) but we’re all struggling, yep us small businesses too,” the latest post featuring an alleged shoplifter stated.

“We’d appreciate if you returned and paid for your new vibe.”

Love Heart Adult Shop manager Ash Sturmer says the James St business has harnessed social media to clamp down on shoplifting, Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Ms Sturmer said CCTV video of alleged offending was posted to social media in an effort to identify the people involved – and scare off others who may think to try something similar.

“We don’t have an exaggerated amount of theft but when we do and it’s caught on camera we thought going public would be the best way to identify people,” she said.

“The last three times it’s happened we’ve posted the video it got shared among the community groups (on Facebook), and within an hour we had them identified.

“The great thing about the CCTV is that if you get a bit of a feeling that someone is dodgy you can just go back to the video and the proof is there.

“I think a lot of other businesses should do the same. Whether its $10 or $100 we’re still losing money from shoplifting, and I think that now people know we go public with the video it has deterred people.

“Genuine customers keep the business running, if we wanted to give stuff away for free we would.”

Toowoomba Police Division has recorded a rise in shoplifting reports, with police investigating 742 reports of shop stealing in the 12 months to January 2022.

According to Queensland police data, a spike in shop stealing reports was recorded in December 2021 with 80 shoplifting offences investigated.

Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Rohl said shoplifting was an example of thieves kicking struggling businesses while they’re down.

“I think all businesses are mindful and vigilant, and it’s been a traumatic past six months for many businesses through the Covid period,” he said.

“The trouble is while businesses are doing it tough, people are also doing it tough.

“Shoplifting is just another thing business owners need to think about when they’ve already been stressed and while they’re being vigilant it’s a good reminder not to kick people while they’re down.”

Here are 11 people convicted in Toowoomba courts of shoplifting in the past 12 months:

Karlah Jean Bligh

A homeless Toowoomba woman went on a six-month long crime spree across south east Queensland claimed that she got caught up in the nefarious activities of the friends she was couch surfing with.

Karlah Jean Bligh appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court in February 2022 where she pleaded guilty to a raft of charges, including seven counts of stealing.

Toowoomba woman Karlah Jean Bligh has been convicted for a string of property offences committed across south east Queensland.

During the 20-year-old’s shoplifting spree she stole $160 in liquor from BWS Glenvale, $200 of groceries from Coles North Toowoomba, $636 of handbags from a Strandbags store in Springfield and a number of thefts from stores in Grand Central Shopping Centre.

Bligh was handed a 15 month probation order.

Troy Desmond Wells

A Toowoomba man who punched a shop keeper in the face when challenged about shoplifting was jailed after he pleaded guilty to stealing and common assault.

The 41-year-old was caught on CCTV stealing two bottles of vanilla essence from a Ruthven Street store in August 2020, the court was told in August last year.

When a shop attendant challenged him, Wells called him a dog c--- and punched him in the face before walking out.

Magistrate Howard Osborne said the matter was serious and fined Wells $450 on the stealing charge and for the assault sentenced him to nine months in jail but ordered the whole term be suspended immediately for 12 months.

Bailey John Keep

The father of two stole a $199 handbag from a Grand Central store as a present for his ex-partner, only to destroy the bag, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told in December.

The 22-year-old was walking through Grand Central shopping centre on October 25, 2021, when he passed by the Strandbags store and snatched a $199 handbag before leaving without paying.

Bailey John Keep has appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court for stealing a $199 handbag as a gift for his ex-girlfriend's birthday.

On November 2 police found Keep on Ruthven Street and after initially denying any knowledge of the bag he eventually told police he stole the bag as a gift for his ex-girlfriend for her birthday but that he never gave it to her, and “disposed” of it.

Keep pleaded guilty to stealing, and was sentenced to 50 hours community service.

Troy Rueben Christopher Holder

A drug addict stole more than $10,000 worth of products from various Toowoomba stores which he then pawned to support his drug habit.

Over 12 months between December 2019 and December 2020, the 44-year-old stole various items ranging from headphones, socket sets, nail guns, air compressors and liquor from a range of stores including Myer, Bunnings, Woolworths, Big W and First Choice.

In Toowoomba Magistrates Court in July last year Holder pleaded guilty to 47 offences including stealing and fraud.

Magistrate Kay Ryan sentenced Holder to two years in jail, to be suspended for two years, on the earlier offences.

Thomas John Dunlea

A Toowoomba man’s four month crime spree saw him stealing $950 worth of sex toys to stealing cars to being found with $13,000 cash suspected stolen.

Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told in November 2021 that Dunlea stole $954 in sex toys from an adult store in Toowoomba on February 21, among other offences.

In total Dunlea pleaded guilty to 21 offences.

Thomas John Dunlea appeared via video link from Arthur Gorrie to plead guilty before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on November 19, 2021, to 21 offences.

Magistrate Graham Lee sentenced Dunlea to 18 months in jail but, declaring 156 days as time served, ordered he be released immediately on parole.

Emma Jane Facey

Addiction and grief were put forward as the triggers that sent a young mum into a spiral of petty theft that only ended when she was jailed.

In June last year, the Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard Emma Jane Facey stole clothing and groceries from Myer, City Beach, Glenvale Coles, Kmart, Strandbags and Sportscene Super Warehouse from November 1, 2020 to March 13, 2021.

The 26-year-old mother of four pleaded guilty to a total of 18 offences.

Magistrate Graham Lee ordered a head sentence of 87 days in jail noting that it was time already served. He added a 18-month period of probation that came with a condition that Facey submit to drug testing.

Ashley Christian Windus

An Upper Lockyer Valley man pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing in Toowoomba Magistrates Court in February this year for attempting to shoplift a gel blaster and $24 in bandages in two separate incidents.

The court was also told that in May last year Windus attempted to steal a gel blaster pistol from a Ruthven Street store, but was confronted by staff shortly after leaving.

On November 23 Windus attempted to steal $24 of bandages and medical equipment from Chemist Warehouse, but again was foiled when confronted by staff.

The 21-year-old was fined $500 and sentenced to two months jail, suspended for 12 months.

Peter Anthony Turnbull

A prolific shoplifter, who pleaded guilty to nine stealing charges in Toowoomba Magistrates Court in August 2021, realised he needed help to stop his light-fingered habits and hoped to seek counselling once released from prison.

The stealing offences arose from 49-year-old Peter Anthony Turnbull shoplifting two bottles of liquor from Dan Murphys, Wilsonton, on February 11, clothing from Lowes on May 10, costume jewellery from Woolworths the same day, clothing from Best and Less, Target and Kmart, costume jewellery from Myer between May 6 and 9, and clothing, jewellery, wallets and other items on May 10.

Magistrate Graham Lee sentenced Turnbull to nine months in jail but ordered the whole term be suspended for 30 months.

For breaching probation he was fined $250 and ordered to pay $112 restitution for Dan Murphys.

Travis James Hinitt

Fingerprints left at the scene of break in at the Solahart Darling Downs store linked the 29-year-old to a burglary that saw $11,000 worth of panels disappear.

Toowoomba Magistrates Court in June heard Hinitt pleaded guilty to 38 charges, including the burglary and stealing $400 of toys from Toymate.

Magistrate Howard Osborne ordered a head sentence of nine months in jail for the break-in at Solahart and set his parole date at September 11, 2021.

Mr Osborne also fined Hinitt a total of $4100 and ordered he pay $11,250 in restitution to Solahart Darling Downs.

Lloyd Kelvin Hobday

A Toowoomba winter chill was to blame for the 51-year-old to go on a shoplifting spree, with Hobday taking thermal trousers and shirts from an Anaconda store about 3.30pm on June 7 last year.

Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told in August last year the clothes were valued at $439.

Magistrate Graham Lee noted Hobday had a lengthy history of stealing offences including some for which he had received jail terms though released on parole.

Mr Lee placed Hobday on 12 months probation and ordered he pay $439 compensation.

Jamie Confaloniere

Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard in December that the 28-year-old spat at an employee of IGA Hooper Centre after Confaloniere stole a drink.

Confaloniere pleaded guilty to public nuisance and unauthorised dealing with shop goods.

Magistrate Roger Stark handed Confaloniere a three month jail term, suspended for 18 months, as well as an 18-month probation order. Convictions were recorded.