Man stole over €20,000 worth of electronic goods from the shop he worked in as a warehouse operative

By Sonya McLean

A man who stole over €20,000 worth of electronic goods from the shop he worked in as a warehouse operative will be sentenced later for theft and drug dealing.

Aaron Myler (27) of Johnstown Park, Ballygall Road, Dublin 11, pleaded. guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal to two charges of theft from Power City, Finglas on dates between November 21, 2019 and December 19, 2019.

The pleas were accepted on the basis that they represented sample charges before the court.

He further pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on October 30, 2022.

Garda Stephen Kelly told Aideen Collard BL, prosecuting, that Myler was a warehouse operator with Power City for a year at the time of the thefts.

He had access to the necessary keys and codes for the stores at the time as part of his role and had been placed in “a position of trust”.

On December 22, 2019 the operations manager with Power City contacted gardaí after it was noticed there was “a substantial differences between the actual stock and the stock on the system”.

The manager had viewed CCTV footage from the shop and Myler could be clearly seen entering the secure lockup, removing various items, boxing them up and leaving them by the back gate at the goods entrance of the shop. A short time later a vehicle pulled up and picked up the boxes.

It was discovered that Myler had done this on seven occasions in that month.

Gda Kelly said when the manager approached Myler and asked him for clarification on what he could be seen doing on the CCTV footage he replied “I may as well go.

“You are going to sack me,” before he ran out of the premises and never returned to work.

Ms Collard outlined that a washing machine, multiple laptops, multiple tablets, a Bluetooth speaker, a Dyson heater, Dyson wands, Dyson vacuums, Apple iPods, smart watches, smart phones, a games console, security cameras, televisions, dash cams, a Henry hoover, a coffee maker and multiple shavers was stolen by Myler over that time.

The total value of the items stolen was €20,666.50.

None of the goods were recovered and there was no victim impact statement before the court.

It was indicated to the court that Power City losses were not covered by their insurance.

Myler attended at a garda station in January 2020 and was interviewed.

He was remanded on bail but a took warrant in July 2024 when he was due to be sentenced.

This warrant was executed on April 7, last and he has been in custody since.

Gda Kelly accepted that Myler claimed that he was ordered by others to steal these items because at the time his brother had run up a drug debt.

His brother has since died.

 The court heard that Myler was also caught with €12,232 worth of cannabis in the home he shared with his father on October 30, 2022.

A warrant had been secured to search the flat after Myler had been identified as someone who was actively engaging in the sale of drugs.

A phone seized during the search was analysed and found to have text messages linked to drug dealing.

Luigi Rea BL, defending, said that his client’s brother, who had the drug debt, died in September 2023 and his father died in October 2024.

Myler has been assisting in helping the family care for his brother’s young child since his death.

Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to October 8 next and ordered a report from the Probation Service for that next date.

She remanded him in continuing custody until that date.