A Wallerawang man will serve out a 14 month jail term in the community as an intensive corrections order after being found guilty of shoplifting, larceny and drug charges from five separate incidents.
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John Neville Theobald, 32, was found guilty in Lithgow Local Court of driving a motor vehicle while disqualified, four counts of shoplifting, possessing a prohibited drug, having custody of a knife in a public place, three counts of having goods in his custody suspected of being stolen and larceny on June 13.
On November 8, 2018, he was charged with stealing items worth $309 from Supercheap Auto in Lithgow. The SCA wifi inspection camera and Toolpro tool kit were found on his person, along with a small quantity of methamphetamine.
More charges were laid on November 10, 2018, after police were called to the Lithgow Valley Plaza to reports of two men drinking alcohol on the steps outside the complex. Theobald was one of the men. The court heard, when he was searched by officers, he was found to be in possession of items stolen from Blooms the Chemist that day, including a silver multi tool. He was also in possession of a knife, which he told officers was for fishing.
In another incident on November 14, he was charged after clothing items suspected of being stolen were found in his possession in the car park of the complex. Four pairs of shorts with Target tags on them were returned to the store.
According to documents presented at court, a witness spotted Theobald at Lake Wallace at 8am on November 24, 2018. He appeared to the witness to be searching boats parked in the area. He was seen picking up a rod which the witness knew did not belong to him and walking away. The witness called the owner of the rod, who confirmed he had not given permission to anyone to borrow it.
The owner of the rod approached Theobald and reclaimed his property. Police spoke to Theobald shortly afterwards.
Acting on information received from the public, police found Theobald in possession of a Jayco Caravan suspected of being unlawfully obtained on December 30.
On January 12 this year, Theobald was arrested for multiple stealing offences in Katoomba.
According to police reports, he was seen pushing a full trolley of groceries out of Coles without attempting to pay. He abandoned the trolley, and its $777.46 worth of goods, when he was chased by staff.
He was arrested and charged with that theft, as well as for stealing $228 worth of goods from the Katoomba Big W store, including a backpack and a Star Wars Lego set which were found in his vehicle.
As part of his sentence, Theobald will also have to complete 150 hours of community service.
You can find more court and crime stories here.
