A mother of one who stole a businesswoman's purse after she did not hire her was on Monday fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $1,220 compensation.Jamelia Crawford, 26, pleaded guilty to stealing the $100 purse containing $900, a $20 identification card, a $500 driver's permit, two bank cards valued $80 and a $20 national insurance card from the woman at JRC Discount Pharmacy at Southern Main Road, La Romaine, last week Wednesday.
Crawford admitted to San Fernando Fifth Court Magistrate Ava Vandenburg-Bailey that she stole the purse after she was turned down for the job at the pharmacy. The victim only realised that her purse, which she left on a table in the lunchroom, was missing nearly two hours after Crawford left.After a report was made to the San Fernando Police, PC Dhoury went to Crawford's home in Claxton Bay where he arrested her.
Police prosecutor Sgt Krishna Bedassie said Crawford told the police during an interview at the station that "the person who interview me told me I was not fitting the description of the requirements" for the job.On her way out of the office, Crawford said, she saw the purse on the table, picked it up and placed it in her handbag. Crawford, who has a two-year-old son, said when she got home the woman called about the wallet.She admitted to taking the wallet, but told the woman that she left it in a taxi.
Crawford said the woman told her to forget about the wallet, but return the money. She said on Friday she sent $400 for the woman and promised to pay her the rest by the end of this week. Claiming she made a mistake, Crawford, who last worked as a sales clerk, apologised for her actions.The prosecutor said they could not trace her because their fingerprint machine was not working, but a name check revealed that she was charged previously for fighting.
"You have to get a job and take care of your child and yourself. You can't go around stealing," the magistrate advised. She allowed her until March 16 to pay all the money or serve two weeks hard labour.