Police spent 'thousands of dollars' tracking down man who shoved Nobby's nuts down his trousers

Australian magistrate, Ross Mack, was in stitches after hearing police spent "thousands of dollars" tracking down a thief who stole a $3.95 pack of Nobby's nuts. Pilot, 30, pleaded guilty in Townsville Magistrates Court in Queensland on Thursday to stealing. "Never in the history of (these courts) has a packet of peanuts been the subject to such investigation," Magistrate Mack said, shaking his head in disbelief.



"The cost of this investigation will now amount to thousands of dollars, for $3.95 worth of Nobby nuts." Smiling, defence lawyer Nathan Smith answered: "I think they were tasty peanuts". Pilot sent police on a manhunt after shoving the packet down the front of his pants on November 8, 2011 while he was visiting a Vincent service station. He purchased a second packet and a pizza roll at the same time.

Magistrate Mack told Pilot he'd have to be nutty if he repeated the offence. "You will have cost the state of Queensland at least $1000," he said. "You won't pay it, we've got to pay it." Police prosecutor Constable Lisa Lindenmayer said Pilot was caught after thorough investigations.



She said police linked Pilot with the crime after viewing CCTV footage from the service station. "He told police one packet of peanuts was purchased," she said. "Police seized the packet of peanuts as evidence." Pilot was fined $150 and had a conviction recorded against him. Magistrate Mack ordered he pay $3.95 restitution to the Caltex Service Station in Vincent.