A woman has allegedly stolen a car while the owner was paying for petrol at Warilla service station and then she started living in it before being arrested four days later.
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Bianca James, 37, faced Wollongong Local Court on Monday where she was refused bail.
Documents tendered to court said a woman filled up her car, a white Subaru Impreza, at a Warilla service station with $15 worth of petrol about 3.40pm on April 6.
She went into the store, leaving her key in the car, to pay but did not have enough money so she called her brother to come to the station.
James was walking to the service station with her dog a couple of minutes later. She was wearing a green jacket with a hood and her dog was black with a red collar.
She secured the dog outside and went into the store before she left and looked into the Subura still parked next to the pump.
James walked back into the shop and allegedly stole a packet of biscuits and chips, both worth $5, by concealing them in her jacket.
She then took another packet of chips to the front counter but her card declined and she allegedly walked out with the items still in her jacket.
James untied her dog and put it into the car before she allegedly got in the driver's seat and drove away.
The car owner's handbag, which had her wallet, driver's licence, cards and house keys, was still inside.
The woman called police and officers patrolled the area but were unable to find the car.
Police obtained CCTV footage from the station and allegedly identified the woman as James based on previous dealings with her.
Checks of James' licence revealed it had expired last month.
On April 10, the car owner's son saw his mother's stolen vehicle at the traffic lights on Shellharbour Road, with James allegedly in the driver's seat and her dog also inside.
The man followed the car before James stopped on Dunsters Lane, Croom, allowing him to approach, open the door and remove the keys from the ignition.
Police were contacted and arrived a short time later where James was arrested.
They confirmed she had been living in the car with her dog. Officers found her personal belonging inside and she returned a positive roadside drug test.
James was taken to the police station and charged with stealing a motor vehicle, larceny and two counts of having an expired licence.
In court, police prosecutor Sergeant Ben Bragger said James' alleged actions were "brazen" and there was a strong prosecution case against her given the CCTV footage and being found inside the car.
Defence lawyer Emel Ozer said despite James not having stable accommodation she could report to police daily and could stay with her sister. She also noted James could comply with a condition not to occupy a driver's seat and abide by a curfew.
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming said James faced a very serious charge of stealing a motor vehicle which carried up to 10 years in jail.
She noted the prosecution case was strong, James had a "very problematic criminal history" of dishonesty offences and non-compliance with court orders and therefore refused to grant bail.
The case was adjourned to April 19.
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