A SERIAL shoplifter who stole two charity collection tins from central Victorian businesses has been jailed for two weeks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Emily Sargeant, 36, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Friday where she pleaded guilty to 12 charges including theft and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
The court heard about 7.25pm on November 28 last year, Sargeant entered the Shamrock Hotel in Bendigo.
Read other court news:
She went to the bar where a Good Friday Appeal collection tin was connected to the counter with zip ties.
The court heard Sargeant used a lighter to burn the ties and grabbed the tin.
Sargeant concealed the collection tin and brought it to the bathroom where she removed the money and then left the venue.
The court heard then on January 4 this year, Sargeant stole money from a Cancer Council charity tin in a Castlemaine store.
Sargeant also admitted to stealing a set of knives, worth $400, from a Bendigo Marketplace store in June last year.
The court heard she also stole tools worth $500 from a Bendigo store in September, perfume from an Eaglehawk chemist in November, and $300 speakers from a Bendigo JB Hi-Fi store in November.
Sargeant was arrested at the Bendigo Train Station on January 14 this year. She made full admissions to police about stealing money from the two collection tins, but denied stealing the perfume.
Defence lawyer Robert Timms told the court Sargeant had spent eight days in pre-sentence detention, all of which had been in lockdown.
Mr Timms said the magistrate should consider Sargeant's time already spent in custody and release her on a community corrections order.
But prosecutor First Constable Matthew Hendry told the court the collection tin thefts were "appalling" behaviour and the sentence should reflect that.
Magistrate Rodney Higgins agreed, saying stealing from charities was "one of the lowest acts".
Sargeant was convicted and jailed for 14 days with eight days reckoned as already served. She will have to complete a 12-month community corrections order when released.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.