Adrian Rondan’s surprising excuse after he was busted stealing groceries using Caramello Koalas and Blu-Tack at Wollongong Central Coles
A man dubbed ‘the barcode criminal’ has come clean after his cunning shoplifting scheme involving Caramello Koalas and Blu-Tack went wrong.
Adrian Rondan, 54, appeared in Wollongong District Court last week where he pleaded guilty to five charges of dishonestly obtaining property by deception after he was caught on CCTV stealing hundreds of dollars worth of groceries from his local supermarket, Coles.
The court heard he used Blu-Tack to stick barcodes cut out of Caramello Koala chocolate bars and chewing gum onto his finger and then scanned them at the self-checkout, instead of other, more expensive products he left the supermarket with.
Rondan made off with ice cream, mussels, steaks, toothpaste and insect spray during his five visits to Coles in Wollongong Central in April, but his receipt only listed the gum and chocolates.
On a shopping trip he “bought” bread, boxes of Golden Gaytime, chicken thighs, steak, coconut water and a pair of hair clippers, which came to $143.10. He paid $11.20.
Rondan was sentenced to nine months in prison, to be served under house arrest.
When confronted with A current case Ronden admitted this week that he was wrong, but explained that he was unemployed and short of cash.
He added that his mother’s mounting medical bills forced him to take desperate measures.
Adrian Rondan (pictured) has issued a surprise apology after his cunning shoplifting scheme – featuring Caramello Koalas and Blu-Tack – went wrong
He used Blu-Tack to stick barcodes cut out of Caramello Koalas (pictured) and chewing gum onto his finger, then scanned them in place of more expensive items.
“We were very short of money… I know I did wrong,” he said.
“I didn’t want to steal. I didn’t want to just grab things and put them in my pocket.”
Rondan’s lawyer told the court last week that his client received disability benefits and also cared for his elderly mother full-time. Illawarra Mercury reported.
The magistrate decided not to impose a prison sentence, but warned Rondan that he would be sent to prison if he stole again.
“I’m not sure you’d do well in prison, sir,” said Magistrate Douglass.
“Prison is a very violent, aggressive, competitive place… You go in there as someone who is older and probably not as physically capable as many.”
Adrian Ronan was caught on camera stealing hundreds of dollars worth of groceries from the self-service checkout of his local Coles in Wollongong Central
About seven percent of Australians admit to stealing from supermarkets, almost double last year’s figures.
“It’s one thing to do everything you can to save money, but having a criminal record might not be the best way to do that,” Taylor Blackburn, financial expert at Finder, told A Current Affair.