Man admits stealing women's undies from clotheslines, avoids jail
A man who sneakily entered the backyards of Melbourne women and then stole their underpants from the clothesline has been ordered to take a sex offender program after avoiding jail.
Mark Raulli sprinted from a Melbourne court on Thursday, in a bid to escape showing his face to the media.
The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to seven charges of theft and stalking after his "snowdropping" ways were uncovered.
Since 2012, Mr Raulli entered the backyards and stole $800 worth of underpants. He struck one property in Richmond five times within three months, forcing the resident to move out of fear.
He was later caught on camera taking underwear that had been left to dry.
One victim described feeling like a "sitting duck" while another said the nature of Mr Raulli's offending left her wondering "what he would do next" and left her feeling scared in her own home.
Mr Raulli told police he "had a problem" when he was arrested.
On Thursday Mr Raulli was sentenced to an 18-month community order. He will be required to undergo sex offender counselling, provide a sample of DNA and pay his victims $800 in compensation for their lost underwear.
