A Harrison man who stole more than $40,000 worth of motoring parts was caught after leaving a grocery receipt at the scene of the crime.
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Police traced the credit card listed on the docket back to Peter Edward Poulakis, 24, and discovered he had advertised the stolen wheels and rims for sale.
Officers raided his home in May 2011, finding some of the stolen property and items related to the theft.
But not all the property was recovered because Poulakis had already sold some of the goods to three unsuspecting customers for more than $4000.
Poulakis was given a suspended jail sentence in the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to theft.
He also asked Justice Hilary Penfold to take into account three scheduled offences of obtaining property by deception.
The court heard an employee of a Mitchell business arrived at work in April 2011 to discover a hole had been cut in the fence.
The tyres and wheel rims had been taken from five Lexus and three Honda cars, with the eight vehicles damaged in the removal process.
Police discovered the supermarket receipt near one of the cars and charged Poulakis with the theft.
The court heard the offender came from a stable family background, worked two jobs, was in a long-term relationship, and had no substance abuse issues.
But his father reported Poulakis had exhibited undiagnosed ADHD-type behaviour, including poor impulse control, since his teens.
A pre-sentence report described the offender as polite, open and co-operative.
Justice Penfold sentenced Poulakis to 22-months jails, to be fully suspended upon entering a two-year good behaviour order and paying a $1000 security to the court.
Justice Penfold also ordered the offender to complete 280 hours of community service during that period.
The judge said the crime was unsophisticated and of medium seriousness. She accepted Poulakis had shown remorse for the crimes, including repaying $2000 to the three men who unwittingly bought the stolen property.
She ordered him to pay the outstanding $2335 via monthly instalments of $200.
But Justice Penfold warned Poulakis he could face time behind bars if he failed to complete his community service or reoffended in the next two years.
