Christopher James Pitman: Business Man

Chris Pitman went to Broken Hill after being dishonourably discharged from the Australian Army, he had burnt most of this support network and destroyed past relationships.

There was light at the end of the tunnel, that light came from one of his best friends, Johnathan Cooper. Johnathan took Chris in, gave him a place to live and place to work - The Broken Hill Bookshop.

The Bookshop Boys were born but there was a hidden catch - this arrangement was not mutually respectful.

In Johnathan's eyes, he is living with his best mate, helping him get on his feet and has help running his business. In reality, Chris in incapable of friendship, he see John as a money cow that he can milk.

And milk he did, from a source close to them, it is estimated that Chris ripped John off, totalling over $350,000. Forcing John to sell his home Broken Hill as well as his Bookshop.

I think we have learnt the real reason Chris agreed to run to Sydney with his new girlfriend. Leaving the total destruction behind him, in the way of a best friend now in financial ruin and a pregnant girlfriend left to fend on her own.

Chris the Thief

With a history of telling members of the public that he is a Commando in the Australian Army, he is now living out the fantasy of bring a ex special forces thieve, selling millions from drug cartels. Chris Pitman, the new member of Triple Frontier.

But he is not a Commando or ex special forces, the only operations he has done are on Windows 10 and Outlook, plus he wouldn't have the balls to steal from drug cartels, instead he steals from his friends.

Bookshop Sales

Shortly after Chris was employed at a local bookshop owned by John. Chris wasted no time in pocketing cash from the store’s register. Initially, he limited his theft to cash sales, but soon escalated his scheme by introducing a Square Reader to divert electronic payments directly into his personal bank account.

Chris reportedly only carried out these actions when John was away, often during his frequent trips to Melbourne.

Chris then began selling store merchandise on eBay, pocketing the proceeds while packaging the orders as store-related sales to avoid raising suspicion. This led to a significant decline in store income, forcing John to draw from his personal savings to keep the business afloat.

UnderBracks

It is alleged that Chris started stealing the stock from a popular underwear brand called Underbracks, which John had developed in partnership with a well-known actor and mental health advocate.

Chris allegedly claimed the brand as his own and attempted to market it as a family venture, even involving his brother in the promotional efforts. However, the venture reportedly failed, leaving Chris with a large amount of unsold, stolen stock.

House Loan

John, in a gesture of generosity, agreed to loan Chris money under the belief that Chris was building a house on John’s property. Chris assured John that he would handle all planning and construction details, including hiring a builder.

As time pasted, Chris requested additional funds, claiming they were needed for house plans, site inspections, and other expenses. The final loan came when Chris requested $64,000 as a deposit for a bank loan to finance the build, a sum which John provided in good faith.

However, none of the planned construction took place.

Instead, Chris allegedly used the money to prepare for his departure from Broken Hill. While John was on a routine trip to Melbourne, Chris arranged for a removal truck to empty his belongings from John’s house. When John returned, he found Chris gone, the bookshop closed for nearly a week, and a significant amount of stock missing from both the store and the attached café.

Chris also attempted to steal a coffee machine, damaging it in the process.

The estimated total of Chris’s fraudulent activities amounts to over $350,000, leaving John financially and emotionally devastated.

Community members have expressed shock and outrage at the betrayal, as John was known for his kindness and generosity.

Once a piece of crap, always a piece of crap.