A Ballarat woman who broke into a Gillies Street house and stole possessions to fund her drug habit wrote the victim's family a letter of apology days later, a court heard on Tuesday.
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Chloe Kakoschke, 26, had earlier entered the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre on March 14 and stole a black handbag from the poolside grandstand.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Clint Prebble told Ballarat Magistrates Court Ms Kakoschke found the victim's sister's Gillies Street address from identification inside the stolen bag.
The court heard she then opened an unlocked window at the house and stole various electrical items, jewellery and $100 in cash.
Defence lawyer Mike Wardell said the accused then believed there was a death in the victim's family and returned some stolen items and wrote an apology three days later.
"As the offence was motivated through her drug addiction, she had on-sold some of the property which wasn't able to be recovered at the time," he said.
"Considering my client's very lengthy criminal history, the remorse she showed on this occasion was very surprising in that regard and very genuine.
"It obviously pricked some conscience in her."
Senior Constable Clint Prebble said the wallet and camera were returned to the victim's sister a few days later but the other items weren't recovered.
Ms Kakoschke, who was earlier this month sentenced to 21 months imprisonment for a string of offences including unlawful assault, theft and attempted theft and armed robbery, appeared via video link from prison on Tuesday.
She pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary and two charges of theft.
In sentencing Ms Kakoschke to six months imprisonment, which would be served at the same time as existing sentences, magistrate Cynthia Toose said the defendant "looks much better than the last occasions I have seen her".
"I do take the burglaries and thefts very seriously, however I do note your history and the periods of time you have spent in custody," she said.
"It seems that you have undertaken some progress in custody and I hope upon your release things will go well for you and we won't see you again."