A Cessnock woman who was a member of a motorbike-riding crew that ransacked two wineries and two shops during a massive break-in spree targeting Hunter Valley wine country has narrowly avoided a jail term.
Kiera Buman, 32, was identified in CCTV footage by distinctive neck and collarbone tattoos as one of three people who smashed their way into the Elephant Shop and Daisy Lane Gifts at Hunter Valley Gardens on February 6.
Six days later, she was on the back of a motorbike that rode into Adina Vineyard at Lovedale before the trio broke into the property and stole cash, alcohol and a camera valued at about $7400.
It was the early hours of March 2 when Buman and the same two men rode their motorbikes to Ivanhoe Wines at Pokolbin and forced their way inside.
Buman acted as a lookout while the other two men ransacked the property, stealing bottles of wine.
However, the owner, Stephen Drayton, received a notification on his phone about the break-in. He and his son, winery manager Lewis Drayton, were able to confront the trio before they could flee.
The pair and a security guard blocked Buman and the men from leaving on their motorbikes and the thieves were forced to flee on foot through the vineyard.
The four smash-and-grab burglaries were among more than 20 similar break-ins targeting commercial premises at Pokolbin and the surrounding wine country in the first three months of this year.
Buman, who is represented by solicitor Donna Smith, had spent the past four months since her arrest behind bars before she was placed on an 18-month intensive corrections order (ICO) on Thursday.
The 32-year-old, who is making efforts to rehabilitate herself and had completed courses in custody, was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service.
According to court documents, Buman and the two men were spotted on CCTV at 4.42am on February 6 when they kicked in the front door of the Elephant Shop in the Hunter Valley Gardens shopping village.
Buman's distinctive tattoo was visible as the trio scooped up jewellery, gemstones and crystals.
One of the men picked up a 42-kilogram citrine cave before the group fled.
The total value of the items was about $7800, police said.
Four minutes later, the trio smashed their way into Daisy Lane Gifts and stole jewellery and homewares valued at about $2500.
The trio were spotted on CCTV riding their motorbikes into Adina Vineyard on Lovedale Road just after midnight on February 12 before they smashed the front doors.
They stole a cash register and ransacked an office, stealing several bottles of alcohol, a camera and other items worth $7400.
A few weeks later they targeted Ivanhoe Wines and smashed a hole in the glass front door before ransacking several rooms and stealing alcohol.
Confronted and unable to escape on their bikes, Buman and the others were forced to flee on foot.
In response to the spate of break-ins targeting wineries and vineyards, the Hunter Valley proactive crime team launched Operation Ferment.
Buman was identified by her distinctive tattoos and police connected her to all four offences due to the similarities in the break-ins and the thieves' use of motorbikes to get away.
Police raided her house at Cessnock on March 10 and found crystals stolen during one of the break-ins, as well as a motorbike helmet and clothing worn by the thieves.
Buman initially denied any involvement in the break-ins, but the next day admitted to breaking into the two stores at Hunter Valley Gardens.
She pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated break and enter and, after spending 127 days behind bars, was released on Thursday to begin serving an ICO.
