wmlro.com: a theft to make you laugh or cry
If there is one theft that many people would think "good-on-ya" it's anything to do with parking meters. But stealing AUD1.1 million from meters is such a serious matter that it might just be enough to override the grudging respect for the guilty.
A court in Brisbane has been told today that a gang somehow managed to get the specification for the keys that fit parking meters, and to use keys they had made to take the money from meters.
A 21 year old student, Tea Strekozov, is accused as acting as lookout - and being paid 30% of whatever the gang lifted from the meters.
Prosecutors say that the group operated for just six months from September 2008 and in that time collected more than USD 1 million.
The lookout did not take part in the whole thing: her 31 year old boyfriend roped her as and when required.
So, prosecutors say, she collected just AUD2,000 and her boyfriend bought her a car for AUD6,000.
Now, Strekozov has pleaded guilty to 13 charges of theft and one of handling stolen goods.
She will be sentenced at a later date.
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