Tap-and-go offender told to ‘grow up’

An Albany man has been warned he is denying himself a positive future after pleading guilty to 15 “tap-and-go” charges in the Albany Magistrate’s Court last Thursday.

Derek Andy Loo, 25, was handed a 10-month community-based order and 80 hours of community work for committing 12 fraudulent transactions with three different stolen bank cards over 48 hours in October.

On Friday, October 11, Loo spent $347 of property in six separate transactions at three different locations in Albany, having come into possession of a stolen credit card that was left in a vehicle on Griffiths street in Collingwood Park.

The court was told by police prosecutors that groceries, clothing and cigarettes were purchased in those six transactions.

In the early hours of Sunday, October 13, Loo used another stolen card to rack up $122 of fraudulent purchases in transactions, which included drinks at Stirling Terrace’s Studio 146 night club.

Later that day, Loo attended the Spencer Park IGA, used a credit card that was stolen during a burglary in Collingwood Park the previous night and used that to purchase property to the value of $2.39.

Loo pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing stolen property and 12 counts of gains benefit by fraud for the dozen fraudulent transactions.

Magistrate Raelene Johnston told Loo that he was jeopardising his future, telling the court he was clearly intelligent and articulate but his criminal record could hamper his chances of securing future opportunities.

“Grow up. Stop doing it,” she said.

“In two days you took advantage of other people’s cards. Deliberately on 12 occasions you used those cards for your own benefit.

“You ripped them off.”