A man who broke into a university cafe on Christmas Day, stealing red wine, cash and a collection of souvenir spoons, has told police he was driven by financial pressures from the cost-of-living crisis.
Christmas Day Break-In at University Cafe
Glenn Jason Robinson, 43, of Keiraville, appeared via audio-visual link from prison in Wollongong Local Court on January 13, 2026. He pleaded guilty to a single charge of break and enter with intent to commit a serious indictable offence.
Court documents reveal the sequence of events began on Christmas Day. Robinson was captured on CCTV footage dressed in dark clothing, initially scoping out the Gypsy Jones Cafe at the University of Wollongong. He returned later that evening, around 5:45pm, and forced entry by bending a roller door.
Bizarre Haul of Goods Stolen
Once inside the cafe, Robinson helped himself to a specific and unusual assortment of items. He collected a bottle of red wine and a number of souvenir spoons. He then proceeded to steal $1200 in cash from the register and an unlocked safe.
After filling his backpack with the stolen goods, which had a total estimated value of $1920, he fled the scene. The most valuable single items were the souvenir spoons, valued at $700.
Cost-of-Living Cited as Motive
When questioned by police in the days following the burglary, Robinson admitted to the theft. He stated he needed money due to the cost of living and the expenses associated with the Christmas period.
He told officers he had already spent the stolen cash. The bottle of wine had been left "somewhere" in Wollongong. Fortunately, the distinctive souvenir spoons, worth $700, were recovered by authorities.
Case Adjourned for Sentencing Report
Following his guilty plea in Wollongong Local Court, Magistrate Mark Douglass adjourned the matter for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. The case is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on February 24, 2026.
Robinson remains in custody awaiting the outcome of the report, which will assist the court in determining an appropriate sentence for the Christmas Day burglary.
