12:00a.m. 29th August 2008

KMart staff suspected something not quite right was happening.

And their suspicions were confirmed when William Leon Hayes tried to return saucepans to the Sunshine Plaza store, without a receipt, in June this year.

The saucepans scanned at $339.

Police prosecutor Phillip Stephens told the Maroochydore Magistrates Court yesterday that Mr Hayes and his cousin would buy a cheap item, take a barcode from a dearer one, stick it on and then return the item. He said Mr Hayes would buy other goods using in-store gift vouchers he received when he returned an item.

Mr Hayes pleaded guilty to 14 counts of stealing and fraud relating to bed sheets and saucepans he took from various Queensland KMart stories.

Lawyer Rod Morgan said the 26-year-old, who had no criminal history, was unemployed and looking for work without success.

“He discovered the scheme through a friend and unfortunately temptation got the better of him.”

Mr Hayes was fined $1500 and must pay $1300 restitution to Kmart. His cousin was previously fined $1500, with $1520 restitution.