Serial shoplifter jailed for nine months

A man who stole more than €4,300 worth of groceries, clothing and household goods from shops across Cavan and neighbouring counties has been sentenced to a total of nine months in prison.

Eimantas Petronis (37), of Clonooseboy, Ballyheelan, Cavan, appeared before Cavan District Court where Judge Patricia Cronin finalised a series of theft matters that had previously been before the court over several sittings.

Petronis, represented by solicitor Damien Rudden, has been in custody since February 18, and appeared via video link from Castlerea Prison.

The sentence brings to a conclusion a case that first came before the court earlier this year when Judge Raymond Finnegan requested that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) review the large number of theft allegations collectively rather than individually.

At an earlier sitting in April, Judge Finnegan indicated that dealing with the offences on a combined basis would be “more appropriate” given the volume of allegations before the court.

However the DPP subsequently directed that the matters proceed summarily as individual Section 4 theft offences.

The charges related to a months-long theft spree spanning from October 2025 to February 2026 and involving a range of retailers including Lidl, SuperValu, Aldi, Sports Direct and Woodie’s DIY.

The total value of items stolen amounted to €4,352.02.

Petronis was on bail for three of the thefts, and had been in custody since February 18.

A notable feature of the offending was the repeated targeting of premium and high-value food items, particularly expensive cuts of meat. Across numerous thefts, Petronis stole ribeye steaks, striploin steaks, Irish beef joints, Angus roasting cuts, lamb shoulder, salmon, duck breasts and other premium grocery products from supermarkets, including more than €220 worth of ribeye steaks, salmon and lamb shoulder from Tarpey’s SuperValu.

Among the offences were the theft of nine Serrano hams valued at almost €630 from Lidl in Creighan, clothing worth €965 from Sports Direct in Cavan, a Karcher power washer from Woodie’s, large quantities of meat from several supermarkets and groceries from stores in Cavan, Virginia, Ballyconnell and Mullingar.

The court heard that Petronis stole a bottle of vodka and peanuts worth €51.02 from SuperValu at the Realta Centre on October 13, 2025. He also stole meat, salmon, lamb, steaks and other groceries on multiple occasions from supermarkets throughout the county.

Another notable aspect is that Petronis arrived to the stores, in at least one of several of the cases, in a van and also a Mercedes car.

In most of the thefts he would bypass tills and leave without paying. As in the case, Petronis exited via the fire exit.

In respect of the theft from Sports Direct he was stopped by security and the goods were recovered.

He had no previous convictions, and the Cavan court was told Petronis, a Lithuanian father of one, came to Ireland about a year ago. He had beenw working in construction but the business closed and he was left with “no place to go”.

It was said that Petronis speaks four languages fluently, and now works as a chef in the prison.

It was further suggested to the court that Petronis may have been working in consort with others in carrying out the thefts.

In sentencing, Judge Cronin imposed a three-month prison sentence for the October theft of vodka and peanuts from SuperValu, backdated to February 18, when Petronis first entered custody.

A four-month sentence was imposed for the theft of an Eco Vac system and meat products valued at €549.48 from Lidl in Creighan on February 1, 2026. That sentence was ordered to run concurrently.

The judge imposed the longest sentence of six months’ imprisonment for the theft of €223.94 worth of meat and groceries from Tarpey’s SuperValu on January 29, 2026. That sentence was also directed to run concurrently.

For stealing €382.80 of meat from Aldi in Mullingar on February 12, 2026, Petronis received a further prison term. The sentences were structured in such a way that Petronis will serve a further six months in prison, bringing the overall custodial term to nine months.

Petronis was barred from entering any of the stores, from which he stole.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal.