Latoya Marie Dennis, 34, of Todd Place, pleaded guilty to shoplifting from Coles supermarket.

According to police, officers were conducting Operation Shop Steal on December 5.

About 10am that day, Dennis entered the store and a loss prevention officer saw her picking up items and place them in her carry bag.

About 10.15am the loss prevention officer saw her leave the store without attempting to pay and police approached her in the Anson Street car park.

Police said Dennis initially denied stealing the items and claimed she purchased the items earlier that morning but did not have a receipt.

However, she later said, "yeah I took them but I can go back and pay for them".

When asked why she stole the items she said she was "just being stupid".

Magistrate David Day gave Dennis a 12-month community correction order with rehabilitation and treatment and 30 hours of community service after reviewing an assessment report. 

"Looking at her record my first inclination is to jail her," Mr Day said.

In court Dennis was told about the effect shoplifting had on the rest of the community due to stores such as Coles having to pay for loss prevention officers, surveillance technology and detectors. She was told stores made up for the loss of those items by raising prices it charged customers.