A man has been charged after reportedly stealing 53 right shoes from a family-owned store at Kenmore Village Shopping Centre in Queensland. The incident occurred on July 7 at 7.30pm, when CCTV captured him placing numerous shoes into a suitcase. Following the theft, both the police and Shoe Fashions Kenmore appealed to the public for assistance in recovering the missing items, which had been hidden in a shared area of the shopping centre.
Almost two weeks after the theft, authorities arrested a 49-year-old man in Broadbeach. He faces a charge of entering a premises and committing an indictable offence. Queensland Police Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Blyth acknowledged the unusual nature of this case, stating that such thefts are rare. He remarked, “It’s not every day you come across a case involving the theft of 53 right shoes,” highlighting the importance of the public’s help and the effectiveness of the CCTV footage in recovering the stolen goods.
The stolen shoes were eventually returned to Shoe Fashions Kenmore, which playfully dubbed the incident the “great right boot heist,” declaring it officially concluded. On social media, the store cheekily announced that their “stylish little outlaws” had returned after their escapade, now looking “as fab (and slightly more notorious) than ever with just a wee touch of criminal fame.”
The 49-year-old is scheduled to appear in court at Southport Magistrates Court today.