A thief walked into The Warehouse in Palmerston North in October and stole a selection of kids clothing, stuffed it under her arm and attempted to leave the shop without paying for it.
When the alarms activated, she attempted to escape, until staff asked her to stop.
What’s with the bulge? they asked.
Why, that bulge was nothing but a “hernia”, the woman replied.
She promptly dumped the clothes, valued at $132, then left the shop.
A short while later, police asked the woman to explain herself.
She had intended not to pay and “get away with it”, prosecuting Sergeant Chris Whitmore said.
The woman, Elaine McGhie, pleaded guilty to the shoplifting charge when she appeared at the city’s court yesterday.
Lawyer Mark Alderdice said his client had an “extensive” history for dishonesty offences.
Claiming a hernia, was a “somewhat creative explanation”.
McGhie was in financial strife after her partner was sent to prison for a lengthy sentence for burglary and she was left to survive on a benefit.
The clothes were intended to be “gifted on”, Mr Alderdice said.
Judge Les Atkins said prison was a real possibility - McGhie had been fined and given community work for similar offences last year - nothing seemed to deter her.
One hundred hours of community work were duly ordered plus a sting in the tail.
Any more “slip ups” equals jail.
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