Court documents said police were called to the work site on Kembla Street just after 3 o’clock on Thursday morning with reports CCTV footage had picked up a person onsite without permission.

Police will allege they arrived to see serial thief Beckie Lawrence crouching down behind a black ute parked on the opposite side of the road.

Lawrence immediately stood up and walked away as police approached her. They quickly stopped her, at which time they noticed a removal trolley containing a large cardboard box on the ground near the ute.

Inside the box was a Fujitsu air conditioning unit with an orange delivery sticker displayed on it, nominating the delivery address as the Kembla Street construction site.

Police noted Lawrence was wearing a grey hooded jumper with red writing on the front, black pants, a black head scarf and black and white shoes at the time – allegedly the same clothing worn by the perpetrator.

When speaking to police, the 38-year-old claimed she knew nothing about the air conditioning unit, telling them “I was with my friend and he took off when he seen your lights”.

Lawrence was arrested and charged with larceny and entering enclosed lands without a lawful excuse.

Registrate Kirby Moore refused to release Lawrence on bail, saying there were no conditions she could impose to mitigate the risk of Lawrence committing further offences.

The case will return to court on January 7.