$400 Fine For Stealing $9.98 Worth Of Carrots
60-year-old grandmother Shirley Francis pleaded guilty to stealing $9.98 worth of carrots and biscuits from the Church Street branch of the Marketplace stores. The offence to which she had pleaded guilty took place at 9:00am on 4th June 2012.
The evidence was that a Marketplace manager had seen her place a bunch of carrots in her handbag and that this caused him to continue to watch her.
She had picked up other items, gone to a cashier, paid for these other items, and had then gone to an elevator to go downstairs prior to leaving the store. The Manager got in the elevator with her and once on the ground floor, accosted her and asked to see in her handbag.
Ms Francis complied and the Manager saw the carrots and a package of biscuits and asked if they had been stolen. Ms Francis said: “Yes I did it.” Police were called and she was taken to Hamilton Police Station where she admitted the offence.
Duty Counsel offered that at the time of the offence, Ms Francis was a diabetic, suffering from high blood pressure, and had not taken her medication. Counsel suggested that this led Ms Francis to behave irrationally. Counsel pointed out that Ms Francis had children and grandchildren, was gainfully employed, and that the items were of low value.
Senior Magistrate Archie Warner noted that Ms Francis had a previous shoplifting conviction from 2008 for which she had received a Conditional Discharge. Duty Counsel pointed out that this did not show a pattern of behavior and asked for leniency.
The Magistrate fined Ms Francis $400 with 40 days to be served in default. Ms Francis was given until 11th July to pay the fine.
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I was sympathetic until I saw where she had done this before. She should have learned her lesson then. In any case, everybody knows not to shoplift from Marketplace-they don’t cut you any slack, EVER. Yet they don’t seem to be paying attention when vagrants come, stick their dirty fingers in food at the food court, and shove it in their mouth while nobody’s watching, and get themselves a free meal. I’ve seen it and so have others I know and it’s been reported yet still happens…
If they stuck a vagrant up on the scale guaranteed he’d weigh more leaving than when he came in, yet I don’t see them taking any of them to court for shoplifting cooked food (and I’m being a smartazz, I know they really can’t do that before some genius decides to point it out). They need to have someone watch over the food like they do at Supermart because that’s really gross.
LOL!
Cut you slack? I can think of something else that needs to be cut!
‘Making off without payment’ is an offence. So, they should also prosecute the “vagrants”.
THIS IS BEYOND CRAZY!! LOL IS RIGHT!
She could have stolen a cheaper bag of carrots from Lindos or Harrington Hundreds.
Perhaps her fine would have been a lot less!
She should’ve gone for the cheaper imported carrots. Maybe her fine would have been less…
Times are hard… This isnt a joking matter. if people cannot understand this is bigger than a bag of carrots, something is wrong.
Ditto
Ditto ! Have a heart !
I totally agree!! Not like she was bored and didnt have nothing else better to do!!! DUH she is stealing them for a real reason!! MAYBE SHES HUNGRY and broke like the rest of us!!
@Bermywan…it is a joke!!! She is a repeat offender. And if times are that hard for her, I’m sure she should have asked a relative to purchase the items for her or better yet they should have given her money to purchase her diabetic and high blood pressure medication. that would have saved her a hefty fine and embarrassment! There is definitely an underlying mental problem that this poor woman has that should be addressed.
She is a thief .
Twice over.
So are the elites, point?
Some people do what they need to survive, others just do for greed…
We don’t know her story
And the prices at grocery stores constitute highway robbery – so I guess one good deed deserves another!
Slap on the wrist.
It doesn’t matter if times are hard or not. Bottom line is you know right from wrong.
Should have gotten a heavier fine.
Shxt you get caught listening to a iPod or talking on a phone while driving is a bigger fine then what this THEIF fined with.
Exactly and we have many charities who hold breakfast, lunch and dinner almost daily that feed the needy for free. If you are hungry and can’t afford food you don’t have to steal. This lady just sounds like a klepto.
You are right .. Every one knows the difference between right and wrong but please don’t try to draw a comparison with what is probably the only sensible (but flawed as usual) legislation this government has ever passed.
It’s most unlikely she would have rear ended another vehicle or crossed over into the oncoming lane and killed someone whilst pinching her biscuits and carrots.
I know this woman, I worked with her previously. She does not need to steal , she has money, her husband retired from a good job and I’m sure he gets a good pension. I think she has an illness (mentally) that makes her do this. It’s sad and shameful for her and especially her family. I really hope she gets some help
I completely understand what you’re saying and that you’re not trying to be mean. If she doesn’t need to steal for survival, then you’re right-she could possibly have Kleptomania which is a mental illness. A person with this would be compelled to steal things they don’t need or even really want. She won’t stop without treatment so I agree that she does need help.
@SMS – TMI – Too Much Information..it is obvious that she has a problem.
Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of and it should be addressed and dealt with as soon as there is a problem.
I’m not saying mental illness is something bad I’m sorry if people misunderstood me. What I was trying to say is for people to not judge her harshly that she may not have done it intentionally Or realize what she was doing.
Many do not understand mental illness as it relates to stealing and other behaviors. Many do it and in some cases, it is not for reward or need, it is simply a function that they can not control. Hard to believe but true. In some cases persons who fit this illness, have the money on them, and have good jobs and are of means. it is clear that this is an issue, Carrots???? Come on!
The struggle is real…