By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A MAN stands accused of multiple commercial burglaries and shop thefts in the Fountain Gate precinct, including a $40,000 jewellery heist with his 14-year-old son.
Police informant Senior Constable Tara Firth told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court that the 40-year-old unemployed man had told police that he stole because “it was the only way” to support his family.
Police told the court it was unclear if the money was to sustain the family or to fund the ice habit of the accused.
It was alleged he and his teenage son wore high-visibility vests and stole the jewellery from a loading dock at Fountain Gate while pretending to be workers about 9am on 21 August.
The son was seen pushing a shopping trolley, which was filled with the loot by the accused.
“It’s not demonstrating the care and protection that ought to be given to a 14-year-old child,” police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Renee Bloomfield told the court.
“The son and the adult were acting in concert.”
While on bail for that and another burglary charge, the man allegedly committed four burglaries at outlets at or near Fountain Gate in August and September.
His alleged loot included three kegs of beer valued at $900, two wicker chairs worth $800, a $200 kayak and two surfboards worth $200.
The man has been in remand custody since 14 September when police raided the man’s home at an Endeavour Hills boarding house – where he, his partner and two children share a room.
Police seized a “long list” of suspected stolen items valued about $10,000, Sen Const Firth told the court.
The month before, police seized nine Nike sports jackets, leather jackets as well as jars of Nutella allegedly owned by an Endeavour Hills bakery.
The man had allegedly told police he didn’t care about the businesses of the victims.
“They’re insured and they can afford it,” he allegedly told them.
Defence lawyer Effie Lagos told the court the man had been looking after his 14-year-old son as a single dad for much of the child’s life.
“He instructed me that he was disgusted in himself that he committed this with his son.”
She told the court that the accused claimed to have owned several of the seized items, and that some of the burglaries lacked forensic evidence.
The man led a law-abiding life running a spa factory and then a Gold Coast motel prior to a stroke 18 months ago, Ms Lagos told the court.
Ineligible for a disability pension, the man then fell into depression and started using ice up to three times a week.
Up until May this year, the man had no prior convictions.
Ms Lagos said CREDIT bail could help the man with his ice habit, depression and acquired brain injury.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen noted the man had not shown “any commitment to any kind of rehabilitation”.
The accused had failed to attend drug-and-alcohol appointments and had re-offended since being placed on a treatment-based community corrections order in May for 23 property offences.
In rejecting bail, Mr Vandersteen dismissed arguments that the man needed to care for his children.
“No child should be subject to any criminal activity.”
The man was remanded in custody to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 5 November.
