Amanda Monks’ foray into crime began with the thieving of a small bottle of nail polish in early 2014.
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Within six months, the University of Wollongong student had built up a healthy business, founded on her ability to swipe large quantities of highly desirable goods undetected, then hock them online for cash.
Myer and David Jones Wollongong were her playgrounds, with online marketplace ‘ebay’ a seemingly endless cash-cow thanks to brand-obsessed shoppers hungry for a bargain.
However, in late May, a buyer with a different purpose stumbled across Monks’ online store: the Myer analyst, who was working in the company’s fraud team, grew suspicious of the heavily discounted current season clothing on Monks’ site and began monitoring it closely.
Less than a week later alarm bells rang when Monks listed a mint-coloured, size 12 Bardot tank top for sale. The item was new to Myer stores and, with a brief check of national inventory levels, analysts were able to determine only one size 12 had been sold – to a Myer One card holder in Victoria.
The quick-thinking analyst purchased the top from Monks, obtaining her full name, bank details, and address when the parcel arrived.
The fraud team reported the matter to police, who raided Monks’ International House dormitory on October 31, uncovering $11,000 worth of as-yet-unsold goods, including Seafolly bikinis, Mimco clutches and a variety of brand-name clothing, as well as a device for removing store security tags.
Monks’ ebay records revealed she’d already pocketed $11,000 at the time of her arrest from the sale of 370 items between February and October.
Monks told police she’d stopped getting Centrelink study payments in June and had used the cash to help pay for daily living expenses.
Defence lawyer Matthew Barnes urged the court to impose a suspended prison sentence owing to Monks’ continuing mental health issues, however Magistrate Michael Stoddart said such a punishment would be inappropriate given the seriousness of Monks’ conduct.
“A message needs to be sent to the community that this type of behaviour can’t be tolerated.”
He sentenced Monks to a minimum of eight months behind bars.
She lodged a severity appeal and was immediately released on bail to appear in the NSW District Court in November.
