Thieves 'all old enough to know better'

Lyndy Wimutu, 50, Jason Urlich, 40, and Anita Smith, 34, each pleaded guilty before Judge Stephen Harrop to shoplifting charges.

Three people convicted of shoplifting have been told by the sentencing judge "they are all old enough to know better".

Lyndy Wimutu, 50, Jason Urlich, 40, and Anita Smith, 34, all pleaded guilty to two shoplifting charges when they appeared before Judge Stephen Harrop in Masterton District Court this week.

Urlich also pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching supervision.

Prosecuting sergeant Jodi Lawrence said the trio were arrested after being caught on in-store security cameras stealing from a shop in Masterton and another in Greytown.

Ms Lawrence told the court the trio went to Uncle Bills Masterton store on September 11 about 9am when they walked down the toiletry aisle with Urlich putting items in his jacket pocket and Wimutu placing items in her handbag as Smith talked to her. They stole $104.53 in products.

Then an hour later they went to Greytown's Four Square and while Smith paid for some items the other two again stole items from shelves.

They unloaded the stolen goods into Smith's car parked outside before Urlich and Wimutu re-entered the store stealing more items in total valued at $204.57, the sergeant said.

"In both instances they were caught on CCTV taking the items," she said.

Defence lawyer Peter Stevens told the court Wimutu had not offended for the past 30 years.

"She regrets her involvement," he said.

Urlich's lawyer, Louise Elder said he was able to do community work.

"The structure would be useful for him as well as the community," she said.

Smith's lawyer, Virginia Pearson, said she was "remorseful" for her involvement in the crimes.

Judge Harrop told the trio they had behaved badly.

"You are all old enough to know much better," he said during sentencing.

After convicting the trio, the judge sentenced Urlich to 75 hours' community work and discharged him on the breach of supervision charge.

He fined Wimutu $250 on each charge and ordered she pay $130 court costs, noting her last conviction was 31 years ago.

"I accept this is out of character for you now."

He sentenced Smith to 40 hours' community work as she "was a supporter" and hadn't stolen any items herself.