Tray trucks scooped up

By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS

A 21-YEAR-OLD ice addict has faced court charged with stealing two tray-trucks along with a bevy of tools and equipment in two break-ins at an Officer concrete sleepers business.
Other raids across Melbourne’s south-east netted an Australia Post vehicle during November and December.
Among Jake Anthony Riley’s thefts was a Nissan Patrol stolen – with various tools – while the owner briefly went inside his Moordialloc home to get his lunch.
The owner tracked Riley on a GPS device through Langwarrin and then Heritage Springs shopping centre in Pakenham, a court was told on 25 July.
He was also intercepted in an $8000 Australia Post vehicle, stolen while a postie made a delivery at a Frankston home.
When stopped by police the same day, Riley said he was on his way to returning the vehicle – though he was heading in the opposite direction, the court was told.
The Frankston man said his girlfriend had earlier jumped out of his car without warning and stole the postal vehicle.
Riley was also charged with stealing two tray-trucks along with a bevy of tools and equipment in two break-ins at an Officer concrete sleeper business on 22-24 November.
Among the items were two generators, a petrol pressure washer, air compressor, cordless drivers, an angle grinder, tool box, bench grinder and a red riding top and pants.
On the second occasion he drove the tray truck to a Cranbourne West servo and stole $53 of diesel.
Riley was arrested after the sleeper business owner spotted the tray truck and called triple zero.
Riley also stole a trailer with about $3000 of power tools parked outside a Cranbourne property.
That same morning he pawned off the stolen tools for $300.
Riley was also charged with drug-driving after being detected with the drug ‘ice’ in his system.
His girlfriend told police at the time that he had been taking her weight-loss tablets.
Riley also was charged with damaging a Karingal veterinary hospital’s CCTV cameras by spraying them with black paint.
Riley’s lawyer said the accused’s offending occurred while he was addicted to ice, combined with bipolar and anxiety issues.
His immediate family had battled serious addiction and mental health issues, the court was told.
“He’s had a tough time, a tough family life.”
During his four months in prison remand, Riley had completed food safety and OH&S courses, with further courses in English and maths.
He had got work in the prison kitchen, and hoped to land a job as a mechanic or in the hospitality industry, the court was told.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen noted “those jobs (in prison) aren’t given easily to people – they’re given out on trust”.
In sentencing, Mr Vandersteen took into account Riley’s full admissions and young age – as well as the accused previously breaching three community orders.
Riley was jailed for 14 months, with a four-month non-parole period. Taking in account his remand time, he is immediately eligible for parole.
He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined $2000.
He will next appear at a mention hearing on multiple burglary and theft charges at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on 10 August.