A jobless woman embarked on a shopping spree for designer products and jewellery using credit cards she stole from other shops, a court heard yesterday.
Carmen Chan Hon-chu, 27, pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary, 10 of obtaining property by deception and one of escaping lawful custody.
The District Court heard Chan had phoned staff at four boutiques between April and July last year and told them a representative from their head offices would be visiting the stores to make measurements for renovations.
Prosecutor Steve Chui said when Chan arrived she was allowed to take measurements without supervision and took the opportunity to steal six credit cards and $13,300 in cash.
Chan used the cards to buy luxury items including designer clothes and jewellery worth $34,748, the court heard. Shop staff reported the credit card thefts to police and Chan was arrested on June 30 last year. However, she managed to give officers the slip by locking them out of her flat. She was rearrested later.
The prosecution told the court Chan had five previous convictions dating back to when she was 16. Telling Chan an immediate custodial sentence was likely, Judge Alan Wright adjourned sentencing until March 22 for psychological and background reports.