A Woonona woman accused of using stolen credit cards to buy thousands of dollars worth of household items and groceries at stores across the Illawarra will stay behind bars after her boyfriend said he was unable to post her $10,000 bail.
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Magistrate Mark Richardson refused to release Rebecca Robinson from custody in Port Kembla Local Court on Tuesday unless her supporters could put up a $10,000 cash surety to ensure she complied with bail conditions and turned up to court in the future.
He cited her poor record for obeying court orders in the past as his reason for imposing the hefty surety, acknowledging that she posed an unacceptable risk to the community if released without such a condition in place.
Robinson, 20, withdrew her bail application after her partner indicated to the court he was unable to gather the required cash to have her released.
Robinson is facing 26 charges in total, 22 of which relate to claims she dishonestly obtained goods or a financial advantage by deception.
Police claim Robinson used a credit card stolen from a car parked at Balgownie on the night of May 30-31 to go on a 24-hour spending spree with two friends.
It is alleged the trio used the card to buy household items, including a camera, heater and Dyson vacuum cleaner, from Myer and Kmart's online stores, before visiting shops and service stations at Corrimal, Figtree, Wollongong and Woonona.
The trio racked up a total spend of $4083.37 in 47 different transactions before the fraud was discovered 24 hours later, police claim.
It is alleged the majority of transactions were made using the "payWave" system, allowing people to pay for goods or services up to the value of $100 without the need for a signature or PIN.
Police allege Robinson was involved in a similar sting just a few weeks earlier, where a victim had 24 unauthorised transactions racked up on his Mastercard in a matter of hours.
In that incident, Robinson allegedly used the stolen card, or let others use it, to buy clothing, nappies and taxi rides. Police arrested her on Monday after executing search warrants at houses in Bellambi and Woonona on June 29.
Police allege Robinson made "full and frank" admissions to stealing the credit cards and using them without permission, as well as allowing her co-accused to use the cards to make purchases.
She will remain behind bars until the case is mentioned again next month.
