Serial thief stole almost £1,700 of cosmetics from Sunderland Boots branch
A serial Sunderland thief stole almost £1,700 of cosmetics from the same Boots store because he was homeless and desperate, a court heard.
Christopher Tschida, 41, pinched £380 of stock from the retailer’s outlet in the city centre Bridges shopping mall on Thursday, December 11.
He returned on Monday, December 15, to take gift sets valued at £354 and struck twice the next day, making off with items valued in total at £604.
And Tschida finished off his spree by swiping £340 of cosmetics on Saturday, December 20, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.
That crime was committed just a day after he had been granted bail by magistrates on condition he stayed away from every Boots branch.
He had appeared before them to admit a further eight other shop theft offences, prosecutor Emily Hunt said.
Tschida pleaded guilty to five new theft from shop offences and will be sentenced for all 13 same crimes at the same court on Thursday, February 5.
Ms Hunt said: “He committed the December 20 offence in breach of court bail. None of the items taken were recovered. There was some degree of planning.
“He already had eight shop thefts and was bailed on condition of not entering any Boots store or committing any further shop thefts.
“He is on bail to February 5 for reports for those shop theft offences. The starting point is a community order.
“He has 47 previous convictions from 112 offences, 52 of which are theft or dishonesty offences.”
Joanne Gatens, defending, said Tschida had been left without possessions after his few belongings – including an electronic tablet – were stolen.
Mrs Gatens added that he had committed his fifth and final offence due to being homeless and hungry.
She said: “These offences were committed out of desperation. Until two weeks ago he was street homeless.
“He had had no food over the weekend and then only some porridge. He was starving. He committed this out of desperation.
“He is about to get paid, he is getting PIP, and he has no more reasons to commit offences.”
Magistrates granted Tschida bail on condition he resides at his home address and does not enter the Bridges.