A 22-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl have been arrested after the alleged theft of the till and cash from the Krofne doughnut shop in Gungahlin on Thursday.
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Police alleged about $300 was taken from the store, which makes a point of employing people with disabilities.
Sarah Brookman, 22, and a 15-year-old girl who cannot be identified due to her age faced court on Friday afternoon and the girl was denied bail.
The court heard police officers witnessed Ms Brookman, the 15-year-old and a group of other young people walking in Gungahlin on Thursday.
The owner of Krofne parked his van in the loading zone at the Gungahlin Marketplace to set the store up for the day's trade.
While he was inside the centre he left one of the van's doors open and it is alleged the group approached the unlocked van.
The 15-year-old allegedly looked inside and found the cash tray along with a Samsung tablet, and eftpos machine worth a total of about $1200.
Ms Brookman and the girl allegedly stole the items and ran off. The owner returned and attempted to give chase but lost sight of the group.
Police viewed CCTV footage and identified the pair before searching Ms Brookman's home and allegedly uncovering the items.
Ms Brookman made admissions she had spent the money, the court heard.
Ms Brookman was granted bail but must comply with numerous conditions and is due back in court in January.
However, the 15-year-old was remanded in custody as Magistrate Beth Campbell said there was too great a risk of the girl committing crimes if released.
"It's pretty unsavoury stealing from a business that essentially acts as a charity to help the disadvantaged," Ms Campbell said.
The court heard the girl was subject to two good behaviour orders at the time of the alleged offences and Ms Campbell said she had a "terrible record".
In addition to the theft charge, the girl was charged with possessing a white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine.
Because of the raid at the start of the business day on Thursday, the store remained closed all day, so staff were deprived of work.
"This was an opportunistic crime, but also an incredibly callous one given the important role this business plays with vulnerable members of the ACT community," the officer in charge of Gungahlin Police Station, Detective Sergeant Rod Anderson, said.
Police said investigations into the involvement of the other alleged offenders remained ongoing.
Owners Danijela and John Vrkic started the business in 2016 with a vision that their son Anthony, who has Down Syndrome, would be fully involved in the production, sale, and distribution of Krofne's European-style doughnuts.
The business has grown to give a range of people with special needs meaningful employment.
Steve Evans
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
Elliot Williams
I've been a reporter with The Canberra Times since 2017 and as a proud Canberran it's been an honour to tell the stories of my hometown. I'm currently reporting on the public service and examining the ins and outs of a very important part of our city. Email: elliot.williams@canberratimes.com.au
I've been a reporter with The Canberra Times since 2017 and as a proud Canberran it's been an honour to tell the stories of my hometown. I'm currently reporting on the public service and examining the ins and outs of a very important part of our city. Email: elliot.williams@canberratimes.com.au
