August 30, 2012
A teenager who stole $4450 in cash from Nanango RSL Club was placed on probation and ordered to repay the money when he appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates’ Court today.
The court was told Steven William Ahrens, 18, had been at the club on work experience when the offences occurred.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing as a servant.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Nick Nitschke said CCTV footage from May 4 had recorded Ahrens placing his hand into a till and placing something down the front of his pants. At the end of the night, the till – which contained large numbers of notes because it handled the bets for the TAB – was short $450.
The following day, CCTV recorded him opening the same till and tossing something into his hat which he had placed nearby. This time the till was short $2000.
On May 9, he was seen to stash something in the rear pockets of his trousers. There was another $2000 discrepancy at the till.
Sgt Nitschke urged the court to record a conviction despite Ahrens’ young age as the breach of trust as an employee was a serious matter.
“Prospective employers and others in the community have the right to know who they are employing,” he said.
Magistrate John Parker placed Ahrens on nine months probation, ordered he repay the money and noted that convictions be recorded.
