Ipswich mother defrauds supermarkets of almost $5000 through barcode scam
Milner targeted several Coles and Woolworths stores near Ipswich (Source: A Current Affair)
A Queensland mother has pleaded guilty to defrauding two major supermarket chains of almost $5000 by gluing on barcodes before scanning her items through self-serve checkouts.
Kylie Milner, 35, glued photocopied barcodes from cheap fried noodle packets and placed them over the barcodes of more expensive items.
She used the self-serve checkout up to two times a day over a three-month period.
Milner targeted up to five different suburban supermarkets around Ipswich, west of Brisbane.
When police raided her home they found copies of the fake barcodes on her computer along with supermarket items showing the dodgy barcodes.
Items stolen included bulk lamb cutlets, frozen seafood, roast lamb, bacon, makeup remover pads, Pantene shampoo, Finish dishwashing tablets and two coffee machines valued at over $200 each.
Milner has been convicted of 31 counts of fraud, three counts of attempted fraud and one count of possessing a drug-related utensil.
Her defence lawyer told the court she was struggling financially and bankrupt, adding she was motivated "largely by need rather than greed.
She was today handed a nine month suspended sentence, fined $150 and ordered to repay $1500 to Coles and $2000 to Woolworths.
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