A MAN who allegedly burgled a Seaford house before stealing a Toyota Hilux utility, credit cards, laptops, phones and a small off-road motorbike while the family was asleep upstairs, will face court next month.
Detective Senior Constable Belinda Rampal, of Frankston CIU, said the man, 26, of no fixed address, was taken down by police outside a Springvale South house, Monday 24 April.
The man allegedly entered the Seaford Nepean Highway house through an unlocked back door, 2am, Friday 14 April.
He allegedly stole keys to the ute as well as two credit cards which he used to “tap and go” 28 times in Seaford, Frankston, Cranbourne and Dandenong over the next few hours to buy cigarettes, petrol, phone chargers and phone credit, before the family awoke and put stops on the cards at about 10am.
Detective Rampall said the man was wanted for “numerous aggravated burglaries” during which he stole printers, computers, credit cards, documents with victim’s names, remote controls, phones, and cigarettes, as well as several cars from the Knox and Yarra Ranges areas.
Three cars, including a Nissan Navarra and a Suzuki, were recovered outside the Springvale house after the man’s arrest. The Hilux stolen from the Seaford house was found dumped at a Rowville service station after it stalled during an alleged petrol drive-off.
Police had been tipped off to the man’s alleged hideout after he was identified from CCTV footage allegedly using a stolen credit card at a convenience store, and one of the stolen cars was spotted outside.
Police cordoned off the property and demanded the man give himself up but instead he climbed up onto the roof after being tasered and then “bean-bagged” by a police marksman.
The man continued trying to escape, finally being brought down as he attempted to steal a neighbour’s car.
He was taken to Dandenong Hospital for treatment before being remanded in custody to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court, Thursday 4 May.
Detective Rampall says people should lock doors at night.
“Most burglaries are from houses which have doors unlocked,” she said.
The Seaford family is appealing for public help in finding the stolen trail bike.
The red Electric Gas E12 trail bike valued at $3500 is still missing, along with a bike helmet and boots, after the bike was driven away in the back of the Hilux ute.
