But the coin in his pocket didn't match the growl in his stomach, so it came down to a choice.

He could get the pack of cheese ball puffs, or pick the (frozen McCain) $5 pizza.

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He couldn't have one without foregoing the other.

As he headed down an aisle at Coles in Lavington Square, towards the self-serve checkout, Coffey had already embarked on his hastily hatched plan.

It didn't appear to be a good one; he'd decided to thieve the pizza and not attract attention by paying for the Cheetos.

He thought no one would notice he'd shoved the pizza down the front of his pants.

Somehow no one did, or at least none of the workers doing their shift on Sunday.

Albury Local Court has heard it was just after 3pm when Coffey picked out a packet of Cheetos from the shelf, then grabbed the pizza.

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Coffey scanned and paid for the cheese ball puffs.

As he left the store he saw police speaking to his brother, Cain Coffey, though he didn't know this was over some outstanding warrants.

"The accused approached police and began asking why (they) were speaking to his brother," police said.

The pizza and packet were in his left hand as he began yelling and swearing.

A member of the public then called out "that bloke had the pizza down his pants and stole it" as police tried to arrest Cain Coffey.

David Coffey smiled in the court dock as defence lawyer Laura Melhuish explained the theft to magistrate Rodney Brender.

"He was hungry and that's why he stole the pizza. He didn't have enough money for both."

The Lavington man, 22, was convicted and fined $400 after pleading guilty to larceny and using offensive language.