Nicholas Raymond Baum pleads guilty to forging receipts after being caught stealing power tools

A Bunbury man who forged receipts after being caught stealing power tools from a Bunnings warehouse will pay hundreds of dollars in fines. Nicholas Raymond Baum, 23, appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on January 17 and pleaded guilty to three charges of stealing and one charge of fraud. In July last year, Baum visited Bunnings in Bunbury and stole an 8-metre measuring tape by concealing it under his clothing and walking out of the store. Two days later, the man was seen on Bunnings’ CCTV pushing a trolley out of the store and loading an item on to his car without paying. He later returned to Bunnings and showed an employee a forged online proof of purchase for a cordless hammer drill that was saved on his mobile phone. Baum took the item and left the store. Bunnings launched an investigation into the stealing on August 25 and Baum was contacted by an officer. The 23-year-old gave the officer forged receipts that featured incorrect dates of purchase and fake barcodes. The investigation found he had stolen $315 worth of products from Bunnings. The court heard Baum was struggling with severe anxiety and when he was caught he immediately thought he would go to jail. His duty lawyer said Baum had been in a difficult financial position due to moving between jobs at the time of the offences. A report supplied to Magistrate Belinda Coleman said Baum was the father of two young children and had managed to find potential permanent employment. His employer, who Baum had informed about the pending charges, described him as “hardworking and trustworthy” and his stealing was “completely out of character.” The man had no criminal record, which Ms Coleman said was impressive for people coming through the court. “I can tell you have good character,” she said. “I am very impressed you told your employer before you were charged.” Baum received one global penalty for all four charges and will pay $500 in fines, in addition to $259.30 in court costs.