A BALLARAT district kleptomaniac who stole goods from Warrnambool stores nine times before being caught has to do community work.
Kathryn Keirl, 48, of Lofven Street, Nerrina, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to nine counts of theft 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, went back to Target and took another batch of DVDs.
Keirl attended Lincraft and stole two children’s puzzles. She then went to a Coles supermarket and stole cooler bags and DVDs.
The defendant returned to Lincraft and stole Textas and linen worth $250, then went back to Kmart, took 16 DVDs and paid for another 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.
When 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 rare.