'Opportunistic' thief stole phone from shop counter
The man appeared before Portlaoise District Court
An “opportunistic” thief who stole a mobile phone from a shop counter was fined and ordered to pay compensation.
Ioneluz Munteanu, 29, of 4 Spa Street, Portarlington admitted taking a mobile phone from Supervalu, Monasterevin on February 19, 2024.
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said a customer left the phone on the counter after paying at 7.20pm on February 19. He said the defendant was identified on CCTV. The man has eleven previous convictions which all relate to road traffic offences, he said.
Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client had admitted the crime and has no previous convictions for theft. He said the man had “no propensity for dishonest offending previously” and the phone had been recovered.
Judge Nicola Andrews concluded that it was an “opportunistic” theft.
“When you find something that is not yours you do not take it,” she informed the defendant at the sitting of Portlaoise District Court.
She fined the man €500 and ordered that he pay €100 to the injured party for “inconvenience and stress” related to the theft.