Two women stand accused of shoplifting on a grand scale, with police allegedly uncovering ledgers of “shopping lists” showing they stole items on request then on-sold them to friends.
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Police allege Skye Leigh Croker, 36 and Haley Davis, 24, raided Stocklands Shellharbour clothing stores on Sunday afternoon, with Davis distracting storekeepers at City Beach, General Pants Co and Valley Girl while Croker allegedly stuffed thousands of dollars worth of stolen items into a bag.
The women allegedly returned to the centre carpark and emptied a large blue bag of bounty into their car in between stores, making room for their next alleged raid.
With 58 prior charges to her name, Croker is banned from almost every shopping centre in Lake Illawarra, Wollongong Local Court heard on Wednesday.
Davis, who lives with Croker and is also banned from Stocklands Shellharbour, is currently on a good behaviour bond and has a suspended jail sentence hanging over her head, for unrelated crimes.
On Sunday security staff confronted Davis in Valley Girl and asked her to leave; Croker departed soon afterwards.
The next day, a manager at City Beach reported finding 12 electronic tags that had been cut off items, and estimated losses at $600.
General Pants Co staff reported an estimated $1700 in stolen goods, while Valley Girl management were unable to immediately determine whether anything had been stolen.
Croker is also accused of stealing $392 worth of perfume – one Coach brand and two bottles of Lady Millions – from Ramsay Pharmacy at Stocklands Plaza in Nowra while with another female on Saturday afternoon.
Police took out a warrant to search Croker’s Lake Heights home yesterday.
They allegedly found four oversized blue shopping bags, two containing items of clothing with security tags and price tags attached, and several brand new items of clothing matching the items reported stolen from General Pants Co and City Beach.
Croker allegedly admitted stealing the items.
Police also allegedly found a bottle of Lady Millions perfume and a piece of paper which they allege is a ledger with of stolen clothing items, with sizes, costings, names and phone numbers attached.
Among Davis’ property, they allegedly found several journals with ledgers of names and “shopping lists” of clothing items of particular sizes.
Both women were refused bail at Wollongong Local Court on Anzac Day after prosecutor Anna Comer opposed their release, citing the likelihood they would commit further offences or would fail to turn up to court in future. They would likely face jail time over the offences, if convicted, she said.
“Police are alleging [they] basically have a business where they are stealing items for other people and then selling them for lower prices [than in-store],” she said.
Speaking on video link from the cells, Davis agitated for her release, urging a relative in the public gallery to “tell ‘em you’ll take me down the coast [to live while on bail]”.
Croker said nothing, and yawned once the registrar arrived at a decision
The matters return to court tomorrow.