NO DOUBT Tara Holland thought she was playing the master criminal when she concocted the ‘robbery’ of her own post office to cover up her embezzlement.

The reality is somewhat different.

Following a tip-off the police were quickly on to the scam and she was duly arrested.

Even without a tip-off, people close to an offence are routinely investigated – and it wouldn’t have taken long for the boys in blue to be on Holland’s tail.

It’s right that she can now reflect on the greed and stupidity of her double deception from a prison cell.