A 39-year-old Beaufort woman who stole from her employer has been warned she will go to jail if she is ever caught stealing again.
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The Ballarat Magistrates' Court heard Sandra Little stole $560 over a week while working at the Ballarat and Daylesford Mill Markets last October.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Ivan Blomley said the stores' owner was forced to place staff under surveillance until it was determined where the money was disappearing.
CCTV captured Little on a number of occasions taking money from customers and placing it in her back pocket and on another occasion taking money straight from the till.
Earlier in the year Little was also charged after she stole a women's wallet from Crown Casino and used her credit card to buy petrol.
On Monday Little pleaded guilty to the theft-related charges, in addition to a single charge of failure to answer bail.
Little's lawyer told the court her client was under financial stress at the time due to a number of growing medical bills for a spinal injury she was dealing with.
She said Little only worked one day a week and was about to be evicted from her house.
She added Little was remorseful of her actions and had written a letter of apology.
Magistrate Frank Jones convicted Little and placed her on a community corrections order with one condition to complete 70 hours of unpaid community work.
"This was a serious breach of trust," he told Little.
"You let them down.
"If you do this again you will be jailed."