Single mum admits to stealing groceries
12:00a.m. 28th August 2008
A single mother who tried to steal $149 worth of groceries to feed herself and her two children was placed on a six-month good behaviour bond this week after pleading guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court.
Dominic Mondin, 21, said she was facing homelessness and had been motel-hopping and staying with friends while living on Centrelink payments.
The court heard Ms Mondin approached a check-out at Coolum Beach Woolworths on June 3 with a trolley full of groceries. She said she had a child missing and was directed to the customer service counter at the front of the store.
She then left the store without attempting to pay.
Ms Mondin admitted to trying to steal the food. She said she had no money and was living with friends while caring for her two children, aged one and two.
Defence lawyer David Crews said the incident had arisen “out of need rather than greed” and Ms Mondin had no previous criminal history. Ms Mondin also pleaded guilty to a charge that on April 17 she was found with a mobile phone believed to have been used in conjunction with drug-related matters.
No conviction was recorded.
Recent Comments
No conviction recorded?...disgusting.
No. This is up to the community to take responsibilty for ALL our citizens. Since Capt Cook landed, we haven't really come very far as a community have we? Despite all our wealth, technology & snobbery, nothing much has changed. She's just doing what the convicts were sent here for in the first place. Stealing a loaf of bread.
Come on all you retired lonely people sitting in your vast empty palaces. Surely someone has room for this young woman & her family. What she needs is a roof over her head, food on the table, some support, maybe parenting skills, her kid's just need comfort, stability & a routine. The basics. The neccessities. The essentials. It's not much to ask. Remember she didn't steal diamonds, a car, designer fashion or shoes. She stole a trolley of food. If that's not a cry for help I don't know what is.
(I even question the 'trolley full' as $149 gets you only a couple of bags of food these days.)
Think of innovative ways to assist these young people to get on their feet instead of bashing them with your words. You have no right to kick anyone when they're down. Give them a hand up, not a hand out. This person is part of our community & this is her reality. Help her deal with it. She is someone's daughter, sister, friend.
Our society sickens me the way we treat people worse than trash. Treat everyone like you would your best friend & the world would be a much nicer place. Compassion is not a weakness. Try it sometime JustThinking it might look good on you.
So many talk the talk, and don't walk the walk. I've spent uncountable hours of my life doing volunteer work for women and children. I spend a healthy amount (and we're not well-off people by any means) every Xmas giving to genuinely families. We're long-term world vision sponsors. Our home is filled with rescue pets.
I have plenty of compassion for those who deserve it. I have little compassion for people who choose to have children and then can't be bothered to raise them decently. I have little compassion for people who put their hand out for government benefits, and then can't be bothered spending that government money where it should be spent.
You should try being a realist instead of a dreamer who makes excuses for people.
Who are you to judge who deserves it? Twice in your reply you say you have LITTLE compassion.
I rest my case.
So glad you are so holier-than-thou that you can select those 'genuine' families that you you feel worthy of your time & money. Do you judge the 'good & bad' animals you rescue? I hope not. If not, what's the difference?
You missed my point. Firstly this isn't about you. It's not the kind of compassion I was talking about. Compassion isn't about choosing who you are nice to. Who 'deserves' it. Compassion just is. Feeling empathy for anyone who is suffering. Regardless.
Secondly, yes, I'd rather be a dreamer any day, dreaming of better ways of doing things & thinking of innovative solutions to help people like Ms M & her children (who, by reading your definition shouldn't even be here taking breath).
If being a realist means being a judgmental, narrow-minded so-called do-gooder with what seems like a sour, bitter heart - like yourself - then you're saying this is good as it gets, this is the best we can do. That ain't right. No child should ever go hungry in this country full of wealth. Get real. That's just obscene. That was my point. No excuses.
This woman is given money by the Government to feed her children...not for drugs and mobile phones. Not to mention the charity services that are available for food vouchers. That was my point...no excuses.
If you're happy for women like her to bludge off the public coffers and not spend the money where it should be spent (ie: feeding her children and providing a roof over their head) then good luck to you.
As for the finger pointing and wagging....funnily enough I get the same mental picture of you.
Clearly she should envoke that entrepreneurial spirit and capitalise on what assets and abilities she has. Perhaps put the kids to work in a sweat shop or even sell them. There are so many option available, rather than relying on a social safety net, just sell a kidney.
The worth of society, children..... is how we treat each other. Because at the end of the day, there is no winner.
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