A BALLARAT district kleptomaniac who stole goods from major Warrnambool stores nine times before being caught has to do 25 hours community work.
Kathryn Keirl, 48, of Lofven Street, Nerrina, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to nine counts of thefts from shops.
She was convicted, placed on a 12-month community corrections order and ordered to do 25 hours community work.
On September 25 and 26 Keirl went to Warrnambool’s Target store and put DVDs valued at $810 in her handbag and walked out.
She then went to Kmart and stole more DVDs valued at $312, went back to Target and took another batch of DVDs valued at $810.
Keirl attended Lincraft and stole two children’s puzzles valued at $75. She then went to a Coles supermarket and stole cooler bags and DVDs valued at $990.
The defendant returned to Lincraft and stole textas and linen worth $250, then went back to Kmart and took 16 DVDs worth $400 and paid for two DVDs.
Keirl returned to the Coles supermarket where she was watched by a store manager on security camera steal DVDs, drinks and chips valued at $384.
The store manager approached the woman outside the store, he noticed other bags in the car and police were called.
A handbag valued at $24 was also recovered from the car which had been previously taken from Strandbags.
Medical reports indicated Keirl had the mental health condition kleptomania which Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said was very rare.
