A drug-addicted Melbourne mother accused of using her young son to steal a handbag from a high-end Southbank restaurant has been denied bail.
The 35-year-old allegedly went to The Meat and Wine Co. Restaurant with her sons, aged seven and five, on September 12 when she distracted the maitre d' while one of her sons crawled along the floor and removed a black handbag from beneath a diner's chair.
The woman is alleged to have later used a credit card belonging to the owner of the handbag to buy dinner for herself and her two sons at Leo's Spaghetti Bar in St Kilda.
She is also accused of entering another Southbank restaurant earlier that same evening and stealing a $3800 Prada handbag containing a $12,000 Vera Wang diamond ring, Louis Vuitton sunglasses and a Burberry purse.
The woman was on bail after being charged with stealing from Bunnings in August, the court heard.
In documents tendered to the Melbourne Magistrates Court, police say she has been teaching her children to steal from stores and members of the public.
The two boys have since been removed from her care, the court heard.
Police opposed the woman's application for bail, saying she was a heavy GHB user and had been captured on CCTV in possession of bags believed to be the stolen items.
She is facing eight charges, including theft charges, obtaining financial advantage by deception and committing and indictable offence while on bail.
She was remanded to return to court on October 19.
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