Homeless man steals HBF employee’s jacket from HBF Joondalup because he was cold

A homeless man who found himself in a HBF outlet through a partially open door stole a jacket because he was cold.

The 23-year-old was in the mall at Lakeside Joondalup Shopping City at 5.53pm on a Friday in February when he entered the premises with no staff present.

Police later charged him with burglary and the stealing of an employee’s HBF jacket and a crystal with a combined worth of $130.

He pleaded guilty in Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday, saying he was homeless at the time “before getting off the drugs” and now looking for a job.

He said he had gone into auto-pilot when he entered the insurer’s outlet before “I fought back”, resisted stealing other things, “chose to leave” and “I did close the doors”.

“I took the jacket because I was cold,” he said. “I returned the jacket in good faith.”

Magistrate Michelle Harries sentenced him to a six-month community-based order and 20 hours of community service.

He has to report to Community Corrections and go to any counselling it recommends.

“It’s an opportunity for you to get the assistance you need,” she said.

His conviction also triggered a $500 suspended fine for a previous offence.