$3k of Ariana Grande perfume stolen by Launceston man during eight month crime spree

A 32-year-old man with a nose for Ariana Grande perfume stole thousands of dollars of the stuff during an eight month crime spree. Here’s what he was sentenced to.

Launceston Magistrates Court. Picture: Katie Hall

A prolific perfume pilferer with a nose for Ariana Grande branded scents thieved thousands of dollars worth of fragrances from chemists across the North of the state during an eight-month crime spree.

Luke White, 32, pleaded guilty to 22 counts of stealing and five counts of driving without a licence and appeared at the Launceston Magistrates Court on Wednesday to learn his fate.

Police prosecutor Kelly Brown said from May 2023 until January 2024, White targeted several Chemist Warehouse locations in Launceston, each time stealing multiple Ariana Grande branded fragrances valued between $49.99 to $59.99.

Ms Brown said the total value of items White stole was about $3400.

The court heard on one occasion, on August 23, 2023, White entered the Chemist Warehouse on Charles Street wearing a pink wig.

White proceeded to pick up two 100ml Ariana Grande perfumes valued at $118, said “thank you” to the service staff, and walked out without attempting to pay.

White was identified on CCTV and contacted by police about the shoplifting.

Ms Brown said White admitted to police he stole the perfume and had “been stealing flat out recently”.

The court heard White had said he had sold the stolen property to a friend and had given some of the perfume to his sister in Queensland. Neither the friend or White’s sister are accused of any wrongdoing, nor is there any suggestion they knew the items were stolen.

Defence lawyer Lucy Flanagan said White had not been issued a birth certificate when he was born and had not opened a bank account as a result.

Ms Flanagan said he had often stolen items as a means for income as he was unable to receive Centrelink support.

Magistrate Simon Brown said he understood White had “stolen out of a need to survive”.

Mr Brown said this did not excuse his behaviour, citing the cost of shoplifting on the community each year.

White was convicted on all charges and sentenced to three months of prison, backdated to January 16, to account for the time he spent in custody.

Mr Brown also disqualified White from driving for three months from April 17 and ordered him to undertake a six-month Community Corrections Order.