Shoplifting to fund addiction

A woman stole more than $1800 worth of groceries to feed her morphine addiction.

A Napier woman found herself in "a bit of a pickle" after stealing more than $1800 worth of groceries from a supermarket to feed her morphine addiction.

Shelley Marie Rogers, 31, appeared in Napier District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to two charges of shoplifting from Pak'n Save in Napier this year.

On May 1, Rogers entered the supermarket and filled a trolley with grocery items, before exiting the self-checkout area while a staff attendant was not present.

After later reviewing the CCTV footage, the store's security estimated Rogers had stolen $737.27 worth of groceries.

The 31-year-old then revisited Pak'n Save on July 4, again filling a trolley with groceries, before exiting the same checkout area without paying.

However, this time security stopped her at the door and added up a total of $1079.73 worth of items.

When spoken to by police, Rogers said she was going to sell the groceries to fund her morphine habit.

After pleading guilty to the two charges, Judge Jonathan Down said it was clear her drug addiction had fuelled the crimes.

"You clearly got yourself into a bit of a pickle and that has clearly caused you to commit those crimes," he said.

He convicted Rogers and sentenced her to nine months' supervision. He also ordered her to attend drug and alcohol counselling but, because she was not in a position to pay, he did not order her to refund the $737.27 sought by the supermarket as reparation.

When contacted yesterday, the Pak'n Save Napier store manager, who did not wish to be named, said the supermarket had no comment.