Rockingham Magistrates Court: woman stole $7000 ring from Zamel’s

Tameka Lorona Smith pleaded guilty to stealing after appearing at the Rockingham Magistrates Court on April 29.

The prosecutor said she entered Zamel’s Jewellers at the Warnbro Shopping Centre on December 3 at 10.17am and asked to try on a ring.

As she had it on, another customer distracted the store’s assistant and Smith said “see you” and ran out of the shop and shopping centre.

On March 26, she attended Mandurah police station and made full admissions to the theft.

She told police she was forced to steal the ring but would not give any reason why.

The prosecutor said the ring was never recovered and asked the court to order $3995 compensation as the ring was on sale at the time of the theft.

The duty lawyer said Smith accepted the facts and was on drugs at the time and in with a bad crowd.

She said Smith did not want to steal the ring but was forced to.

The duty lawyer also said the 21-year-old was no longer involved with bad influences and was turning her life around.

Magistrate Susan Richardson said it was a serious incident.

“I do have concerns as she is young; I think she needs some help. More needs to be done than a fine,” she said.

Smith was put on a Community Based Order with supervision, programs, urine analysis and was ordered to pay $3995 to the jewellers.

Magistrate Richardson also granted Smith a spent conviction.

“To your credit you handed yourself in and you have no prior record,” she told Smith.