Two women accused of making a business out of stealing items on request from area shopping centres have made failed bids for freedom.
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Skye Leigh Croker, 36, and Haley Davis, 24, face 12 charges between them.
In Wollongong Local Court Thursday afternoon, Magistrate Michael Stoddart refused to release the pair on bail, despite Davis’ denials and Croker attributing her lengthy criminal record to disorders including kleptomania.
Police allege Davis served as a lookout and distracted storekeepers – at one point walking in and out of General Pants in order to repeatedly trip the sensor alarms – while Croker raided stores at Stockland Shellharbour Sunday afternoon.
They allegedly stole $600 worth of clothing from City Beach and $1700 in goods from General Pants and were mid-raid at Valley Girl when they were confronted by security staff.
Police allege they recovered some of the stolen goods in a search at Croker’s Lake Heights home, where Davis also lives, on Tuesday. They allegedly found multiple ledgers with names, costings and sizes, suggesting the women were stealing according to a shopping list then on-selling the items.
Seeking her release bail on Thursday Davis, who is banned from entering Stockland Shellharbour due to past offences, agreed through her lawyer not to associate with Croker and to live with a relative in Narooma.
Her lawyer told the court she had been diagnosed with cervical cancer and need her freedom in order to access medical services.
But the magistrate noted she was already on a good behaviour bond and a suspended jail sentence.
“You’ve been given a chance. Despite the good wishes of your family in my view it is in the community interest to make sure you don’t commit further offences.”
“A suspended sentence, it would appear, has had no affect on her committing offences because on the face of it, it does seem like a strong prosecution case.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Davis said, at this point.
Davis faces six charges including trespassing, three counts of larceny, dealing with proceeds of crime and possessing a prohibited drug. The latter charge relating to a small heat-sealed bag of methylamphetamine allegedly found in her handbag during the police search.
Croker is charged with four counts of larceny, dealing with proceeds of crime and possessing a restricted substance – allegedly ritalin tablets and prescription pain medication she did not have a prescription for.
Croker’s lawyer told the court she had strong community ties and said she owned a mortgaged home at Lake Heights.
The magistrate noted her “pattern of repeat offending”, “dreadful record” of 58 prior charges, and prior drug use.
“Excuse me," Croker then said.
“I only started taken drugs three years ago. Before that I had OCD and kleptomania. Drug had nothing to do with the stealing.”
The matters return to court May 1.