Alleged Albany fraudster Rochelle Phyllis Arends given one more chance after ‘significant breach’ of bail

A woman accused of stealing at least $25,000 from elderly and vulnerable people in Albany was arrested on Sunday after a “significant breach” of bail in which she used a medical complaint as cover for an afternoon trip around the city. Rochelle Phyllis Arends, 23, has been charged with 11 counts of fraud and seven counts of stealing. Police allege she targeted elderly and vulnerable victims between September 15, 2020, and May 5, 2021, making ATM withdrawals against their wishes and accessing internet banking to make cash transfers. Police also allege she befriended victims and stole property from their homes. At her first court appearance on June 3, where she verbally abused members of the media, Ms Arends was granted an adjournment and had her bail extended until July 1. Her bail conditions include a 24-hour curfew. However the Spencer Park woman was back in Albany Magistrate’s Court yesterday after she breached bail at the weekend. Police prosecutor Sergeant Dave Loverock told the court Ms Arends misled the police by telling them she was going to Albany Health Campus because of a toothache on Saturday afternoon. Instead, she drove around Albany with a friend from noon to 2pm, visiting nine addresses across the city. Ms Arends was arrested on Sunday and spent one night in custody. Sgt Loverock told the court it was a “significant breach” given the nature of her conduct. He asked the court to revoke her bail. “The accused attended the hospital only to leave straight away ... it is an obvious attempt to circumvent police and carry on with her normal life, misleading people with medical reasons,” Sgt Loverock said. Defence lawyer Kyah Langdon told the court her client had admitted she “slipped up” and knew it was “the wrong thing to do”. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan told Ms Arends her bail conditions were not “an invitation to do something else”. “You were given a 24-hour curfew — what part of that is confusing?” she said. “I’ll give you one chance until July 1 otherwise it is open to me to put you in custody, “Don’t start this nonsense, the court will not buy into your attempts, poor as they are, to convince us you’re doing something else to get around. “The police and I didn’t come down in the last shower. You are on police radar and they will be on the lookout.” Last week, the Advertiser reported three detectives had been tasked with leading a team to investigate more claims against Ms Arends. The investigation is being carried out under the name Operation Seakist. Ms Arends is due back in court on July 1.