Cheyenne Allison Harrington, 30, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier admitting a raft of dishonesty offending, including multiple theft charges.
In October last year, the defendant developed a habit of stealing people’s mail, the court heard.
She would enter properties shortly after a parcel had been delivered and steal it.
Harrington did this more than 10 times last year and when police searched her home they found her haul.
Fitness supplements, a sheepskin hot water bottle, makeup and clothing were among the items she had swiped from doorsteps.
Harrington had also taken new debit cards from mail boxes and cars and used them at a dairy, a petrol station and an online gambling site.
Yesterday counsel Andy Belcher said his client described being on a "15-year bender" and using methamphetamine when she committed the crimes.
But she had since completed a rehabilitation programme and remained clean from drugs, Mr Belcher said.
"She’s ready to now carry on living clean and to continue a sober lifestyle," he said.
Judge Dominic Flatley commended Harrington for her rehabilitation efforts and noted the nearly nine months she had spent on electronically-monitored bail.
He sentenced Harrington to six months’ community detention and 15 months’ intensive supervision. He also ordered her to pay $281 reparation.
