As they left the store, Kelly spoke to a staff member to divert their attention.
Tobin's decision to involve her children in the crime was lambasted by Judge Michael Crosbie, who sentenced her last month to three months' community detention and nine months' supervision.
Prosecutor Sergeant Chris George told the court Kelly was a more experienced offender and involvingsomeone less seasoned in the criminal enterprise was an aggravating factor.
Kelly's crime spree began in Christchurch, where he stole $300 of clothes and electrical items from another Warehouse, jumping over the fences of neighbouring properties to avoid capture.
When he was arrested, he was found with a 9cm camouflaged steel knife and the prescription drug Ritalin, which belonged to his partner's daughter.
He told police he had been a drug addict for 25 years. "Things aren't going to change. I stole the clothing to keep warm while hitch-hiking and the electrical goods to fund my drug addiction."
The net closed in when Kelly went to various liquor stores but was refused service because of his intoxication.
As he tried to leave a Countdown carpark a constable on foot tried to flag him down but Kelly accelerated towards an exit, where another officer also tried to stop Kelly. He mounted a kerb and drove off.
Defence counsel Debbie Ericsson said Kelly had "underlying issues" he had not dealt with, which resulted in him becoming an intravenous drug user at the age of 15, she said.
Ericcson told the court he was finally motivated to change his lifestyle and had a job arranged in Christchurch on his release.
"He has realised his offending has an effect on others, not just himself and the victims but also his family," she said.
"He is ashamed at what he's done in relation to his parents and missing out on large portions of his children's lives."
Judge Brian Callaghan said he hoped the desire to change was sincere. He jailed Kelly for 13 months and ordered him to pay $1246 reparation.
