Shoplifter locked up for $1000 thefts from five different shops

Fay Bargwanna, 49, from Adina Crescent, pleaded guilty to six shoplifting charges and a charge of possessing suspected stolen items in Orange Local Court on Monday.

All the charges dated from September 16 when she stole about $1000 worth of items from five stores in the Orange CBD between 10am and 1pm.

About 10am Bargwanna stole $87.75 worth of diaries and notebooks from a Summer Street store and close to 11am she stole $155.83 worth of greeting cards from a newsagency.

She was intercepted attempting to steal $598.50 of clothing from a department store about 11.30am and then stole a $39.99 pair of trousers from another clothing store.

At 1pm she was caught and arrested after being seen on CCTV trying to steal bottles of perfume valued at $69 from a chemist.

Bargwanna was represented in court by solicitor Gerry Stapleton, who said his client committed the offences having only been released from nine-months jail for a previous offence on September 13.

He said the offences were committed because Bargwanna had a drug relapse and resumed using Xanax, which gave her a false sense of bravado.

“Three days after being released from custody she committed these offences,” Mr Stapleton said.

“She said it’s been a blessing in disguise in that she’s now getting more structured medical attention.”