A Warilla man caught with stolen bottles of booze told police he'd swiped them from the original thieves, a court has heard.
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Police allege Shannon Kakahi, 30, told them the 11 bottles of alcohol he had in his possession when apprehended by officers on Monday afternoon were twice stolen - once, earlier in the day from the Miranda Fair shopping centre by unknown culprits, then again when he knocked them off from a Warilla address a few hours later.
"Somebody else stole it, I'm being truthfully honest, I don't know where they got them from," Kakahi allegedly told officers.
However, he later told police the alcohol had been stolen from Miranda Fair before being taken to Coledale and then to Warilla.
The court heard police went to the Warilla area after receiving anonymous calls that alcohol was being supplied to minors.
Officers noticed Kakahi walking along Woolworths Avenue carrying a bag and wearing a backpack, however, when they approached him, he allegedly dropped the bags and ran. He was later discovered hiding under a car in a nearby industrial area.
Kakahi was arrested on three outstanding warrants, as well as the fresh offences of receiving stolen goods and larceny, relating to the discovery of seven memory cards in his backpack, which police allege Kakahi said he'd taken from Woolworths.
In court on Tuesday, Kakahi's lawyer, Jonathan Kearney, sought bail for his client, saying Kakahi had a long-standing addiction to methamphetamine but wanted to enter a residential rehabilitation program.
He said Kakahi's family was willing to put up a $4500 surety to ensure he turned up to court.
Magistrate Mark Richardson agreed to grant Kakahi strict conditional bail provided he submit to drug and alcohol testing, report to police daily and seek treatment with a court-appointed drug program.
Kakahi will reappear in court next week.