Steven John Mill: Grocery thief gets off with hefty fine after stealing more than $3800 from Geraldton stores

A prolific shoplifter who stole thousands of dollars in groceries and other items over a dozen times — including a trolley load of meat worth more than $700 — has received a fine in court. Steven John Mill, 37, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday from remand where he pleaded guilty to 13 counts of stealing from supermarkets, pharmacies and warehouse stores between November 2022 and October 2023. He managed to steal more than $3800 in groceries over that period. Last year in November he stole a security system from Bunnings Warehouse. In December, he stole a carton of Jack Daniels from Con’s Liquor in Utakarra. In February and April, he stole groceries and toiletry items to the value of $472 and $400 from Woolworths Seacrest. On March 10, Mill stole more than $500 worth of groceries from Coles Geraldton, on May 10 he stole $70 worth of confectionery items from IGA Glenfield and later that month he stole a $230 shaver from Chemist Warehouse. On June 5 he stole $100 in products from The Reject Shop and $300 worth of meat from Wonthella IGA. Mill returned to the supermarket on June 14 and June 19 and stole meat and groceries to the value of $350 and $710. On August 8, he stole a pair of sunglasses from Blooms The Chemist and another $600 in groceries from Wonthella IGA. Mill’s defence counsel Karen Ward told the court he was a father of three who was “stealing to support his lifestyle” and hoped he could pay fines once the matters were dealt with. She said he was struggling financially and received only $700 a fortnight in Centrelink benefits. Magistrate Angus Hockton said Mill was a burden on society and when he stole, everyone else pays more. “You are a burden on them when you chose to think you have an entitlement to steal items without paying for them,” he said. “Many people are wealthy and can afford that but most are just decent people ... rent and cost of living is going up and some are struggling.” Mill was fined a total of $6300 for all his stealing matters. He will next appear in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Tuesday, December 28 for separate stealing, drug, assault, traffic and burglary charges. Bail was not considered.