Technician jailed after stealing gold bars and coins from Perth Mint

An IT technician who stole numerous gold bars and coins from the Perth Mint has been jailed for two years.

Joseph Charles Viola, 29, stole the items over a seven-week period in 2016.

Incredibly, he sold some of the items to a gold bullion dealer across the road from the Perth Mint.

None of the stolen property has ever been recovered.

On Thursday in the WA District Court it was revealed how Viola carried out his daring gold theft heist.

The court heard between March and May of 2016 he was employed on a contract basis as an IT technician at the Perth Mint.

An audit in mid-May identified five gold bars and eight gold coins were missing.

Viola was soon arrested and charged after police reviewed CCTV footage. He pleaded guilty to six stealing related charges.

The court heard the total value of items stolen was $54,478.

Viola had been issued with a security pass at the Perth Mint as part of his IT work and used a computer on some occasions to hide the items as he took them away, the court was told.

He stole coins and gold bars on six separate occasions.

Judge John Prior said Viola had knowledge of how the Perth Mint operated, had engaged in acts of deception and had planned his offending.

"I’m of the view that your offending was motivated by greed to fund your lifestyle at the time," he said.

The court was told security at the Perth Mint was increased as a direct result of Viola's offending.

Viola's lawyer said his client's offending was committed to finance a lifestyle, where he was seeking to support the relationship he had at the time.

"The demands from that relationship led him to make the unfortunate choice to steal gold from the mint," the defence lawyer said.

Viola will be eligible for parole in 12 months. A compensation order for $54,478 was made out to the Perth Mint by the court.