AN ELDERLY woman who withdrew $1000 to buy Christmas presents had her bag and all the cash stolen just seconds after she accidentally left her belongings hooked to a shopping trolley.

Magistrate Robert Walker labelled the offence "shameful” after Tracey Leanne Murray pleaded guilty to one count each of stealing and failing to appear at Warwick Magistrates Court yesterday.

"In those moments we rely on the goodwill of strangers, you should have handed into police,” Mr Walker said.

"I can imagine the distress it must have caused to this elderly woman when she discovered her error and the right thing was not done in respect to her handbag.”

Police prosecutor Ken Wiggan said CCTV footage confirmed Murray took the handbag from the trolley at Rose City Shoppingworld then put it in her own car last November.

The court heard a week later police attended the Warwick woman's home and she told the officers she had taken the bag to police.

"They located the bag in the boot of the car and the $1000 was missing,” Sgt Wiggan said.

Defence lawyer Phil Crook said Murray attempted to return the bag to police but arrived after the station had shut, then forgot about the bag and left it in her car.

Murray denied taking the money but accepted responsibility that it was lost while the bag was in her possession, he said.

But Mr Walker said the fact Murray had not taken the bag to police, indicated she no longer had the intention to hand it in and had taken the cash.

The 48-year-old also pleaded guilty to failing to appear for a court date in March, which Mr Crook said led to her being arrested and spending three nights in police custody.

During sentencing, Mr Walker said the theft was opportunistic as Murray was following close behind the victim when she returned her trolley.

Mr Walker said he took into account the time Murray had spent in custody.

Murray was ordered to pay $1000 restitution and was placed on a good behaviour bond for six months.

A conviction was not recorded.