The victim, Michelle McGowan, often gave a bit of loose change or a cigarette to Jordan Lee Neall outside the Coles in Wodonga’s High Street.

She was in a giving mood two days before last Christmas when she handed the bearded 31-year-old a smoke outside the supermarket.

Ms McGowan headed to the nearby toilet block after chatting to Neall for about 10 minutes.

On the way back, she saw him travelling to the police station, and he said he had found her wallet and was going to hand it in at the counter.

Neall gave it back to her and the woman noticed $70 in cash was missing.

A witness said they had seen Neall take a $50 note and a $20 note from the black wallet.

Neall had told them not to say anything about the incident.

The 31-year-old also kept his silence after being arrested by police and questioned. 

He didn't make any admissions to the incident. 

While Ms McGowan was often happy to hand over a bit of change every now and then, the Wodonga Magistrates Court heard she certainly hadn’t given permission for Neall to take the cash.

The incident led the victim to take a petition to Wodonga Council, for a ban on begging in the area.

Ms McGowan had asked for laws to move beggars away from the area. 

She said people asking for food or money were “accosting” members of the public on the street and those at local businesses. 

The petition, which had 64 signatures, was not supported by councillors. 

Councillor Danny Lowe noted the petition was aimed at a “few of those that are less fortunate than ourselves”. 

Neall recently attended a hearing at the Wodonga court with $70 in cash to compensate the victim for the theft. 

Defence lawyer Mario Vaccaro said the scruffy and unkempt defendant struggles financially.

He survives on government welfare payments and supplements that income through begging, and the court heard he had mental health issues.

Magistrate Peter Mithen ordered he pay the $70 in compensation and ordered he be of good behaviour for the next year.