Courts / Wicklow / Report
Edible insects businessman ran professional shoplifting scheme, court hears
Summary
Anthonie Van Wilderoden, a 44-year-old Dutch national and businessman, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to ten sample counts of theft from four stores between December 2014 and March 2015. He also admitted possession of a specially modified pram and three stolen gold-plated mirrors. The court heard that Van Wilderoden allegedly ran a professional shoplifting scheme, placing advertisements on the Donedeal website for high-value household goods which he then stole from Arnotts, Curries, Harvey Norman, and Brown Thomas. He used a modified baby's pram to conceal items, including a Nespresso machine, crockery, and a vacuum cleaner. Although he claimed the thefts were driven by heavy debt and personal hardship, he has 19 previous convictions across Ireland, the Netherlands, and Belgium for fraud, forgery, theft, and embezzlement. After entering an early guilty plea, Van Wilderoden fled to Belgium before his sentencing date. He was subsequently arrested under a European Arrest Warrant and returned to Ireland in November 2016. Defence counsel highlighted his history of childhood abuse and financial instability, noting he was "totally incapable of handling money." Counsel stated that Van Wilderoden had purchased a plane ticket to the Netherlands and was willing to promise not to return to Ireland if granted a suspended sentence. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage, with Judge Cormac Quinn scheduled to hand down the sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Edible insects businessman ran professional shoplifting scheme, court hears. Charges or matters: ten sample counts of theft from the four stores between December 2014 and March 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 2014 Incident
- March 2015 Incident
- November 2016 Incident
- 2017-01-12 Publication
Why: He said he began the shoplifting enterprise because had built up heavy debt and his estranged wife had gone to America with his children, leaving him with no way to support himself. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: ten sample counts of theft from the four stores between December 2014 and March 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said he saved the money from this to set up his first business but that he was "a person who is totally incapable of handling money." Counsel said Van Wilderoden had bought a plane ticket back to the Netherlands and if he was given a suspended sentence he was willing to promise not to return to Ireland.
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