By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A man who allegedly snatched a handbag from a real estate agent’s idling vehicle in Berwick has been chased down and arrested by three eye-witnesses, a court has heard.
Benjamin Anthony Mammone was refused bail at a hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 25 June despite his pleas to see a sick relative and for treatment for his injured shoulder.
It heard that Mammone had got in and shut the Audi sedan’s driver-side door after the agent exited to retrieve a pointer sign about 3pm on 24 June.
The agent yelled at him and he fled from the car with her bag in his hands.
He was chased down by witnesses, with his pre-existing shoulder injury aggravated during the arrest, police say.
Mammone was also charged with burglary over allegedly breaking into his close relative’s home on 18 June.
He allegedly used shears stolen from the garage to jemmy open a sliding door, then fled after triggering an alarm, the court heard.
Mammone was identified on CCTV footage, as well as his wallet found at the scene, police informant Acting Sergeant Nicole Spinks told the court.
He claimed he had got a taxi to the house, assuming the relative would pay the fare, the court heard.
After unsuccessfully trying to rouse her, he broke in to check she was OK, he claimed.
Mammone tearily pleaded to the court that he needed to be released because he was the relative’s former carer and that she was gravely ill.
“It’s important. I’ve called the ambulance for her on 45 occasions. I’ve almost had (her) die on me so many times.
“I won’t see her … again unless I’m given bail.”
A Mormon church elder who had “gone through things in the past” would offer him shelter in the meantime, Mammone said.
Mammone was also accused of failing to appear at court on 23 May while on bail for drug trafficking as well as impersonating an emergency worker, using a false insignia and handling stolen goods.
Act Sgt Spinks said Mammone was sleeping on the streets and friends’ places. He had no income after being cut off by Centrelink, yet was seeking funds for his drug habit.
“I believe he has a disregard for his bail conditions and because of that he will continue to reoffend.”
Magistrate Pauline Spencer said it was a “pretty brazen snatch-and-grab” of the victim’s handbag, while Mammone was on a community corrections order and facing other charges.
She refused bail due to an unacceptable risk of reoffending.
Mammone slumped with his head in hands. He said he’d stolen the handbag because he hadn’t eaten for two days.
“What am I supposed to do? I’m trying to get by.”
He was remanded in custody to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 1 August.
