Packet of Tim Tams costs Albany thief $300 and criminal conviction

A failed attempt to fool a small Albany business out of a packet of Tim Tams has cost a 37-year-old thief $300 and a criminal conviction. Carl Denis Kelly made two laps of the Lower King Store on April 9 in an effort to conceal the chocolate biscuits, Albany Magistrate’s Court was told last Thursday. Police prosecutor Sgt Alan Dean said Kelly entered the store about 7.15am. During his first lap of the store, Kelly grabbed a Tim Tam packet and concealed it in his clothing. Kelly then returned to the shelf, picked up a second packet and took it to the store’s counter to make a genuine purchase. CCTV footage captured Kelly’s actions. The court was told Kelly had committed a similar offence the previous day. About 8.45am on April 8, Kelly was involved in a fuel drive-off at a Mt Melville Puma service station. Before driving off — as a passenger — from the petrol station with 17 litres of unpaid fuel, Kelly walked into the service area and hid an octane booster inside his clothing before buying a newspaper at the store’s counter. While buying the paper, Kelly told staff his partner would be paying for the fuel. The theft was captured on CCTV. Magistrate Raelene Johnston fined Kelly $500 for stealing the octane booster and another $300 for the stolen packet of Tim Tam biscuits. He was ordered to pay $118 in court costs.