Man busted over Rosny Kmart refund scam
A man tried to scam a Tasmanian Kmart by getting a refund a household good he never bought in the first place - but the ruse eventually fell to pieces.
Police & Courts
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A man tried to scam the Rosny Kmart by getting a refund for a vacuum cleaner he’d never bought in the first place, a Hobart court has heard.
Michael John Picken fronted the Hobart Magistrate’s Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage and failure to appear.
He also faces one count of murder, however that particular matter was adjourned without plea until August while his lawyer seeks advice.
While reading out the facts of the case, the Prosecution said Mr Picken entered Eastlands Shopping Centre at 12.38am on June 3 2017.
He then took a 2000 watt multi-cyclone bagless vacuum off the shelf and took it to the counter to get it refunded.
He brandished a receipt for that same model of vacuum dated from June 1 2017 and asked for a refund.
“He stated that he bought it for his father, no longer needing it as he repaired his old one,” the Prosecutor said.
Mr Picken was refunded $48 for the vacuum, buying a $35 stereo system and pocketing $13 in change.
“That’s a cheap vacuum cleaner,” the Magistrate remarked.
“It’s cheaper if you steal it, of course.”
The court heard Kmart staff grew suspicious of Mr Picken so they followed him to his car to note down his car registration number, ultimately leading to his arrest.
Mr Picken’s Defence lawyer said this was a small scale offence on the grand scale of things, and therefore should attract a small penalty.
“Mr Picken instructs he did offer police to return the balance, but the police wouldn’t accept on behalf of Kmart the $13, which is all he profited,” the Defence said.
“It’s my submission that a modest fine would be an appropriate penalty, noting that ultimately
he profited $13 and with respect to the ‘failure to appear’ it was an oversight.”
Mr Picken was fined $200 and told to pay $71 in court fees for one count of dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage.
A conviction was recorded for the failure to appear charge.
Mr Picken will reappear on August 8 for his murder charge.
kenji.sato@news.com.au
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