An Albion Park Rail man has been refused bail after he was allegedly caught “red handed” trying to swipe copper wire from Bluescope Steel at the weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Adam Troy McKillop, 41, was one of two men arrested on Sunday morning over the heist, in which thousands of dollars worth of cabling was found in the rear of a van parked in a disused powerhouse at the Port Kembla complex.
In Wollongong Local Court on Monday, prosecutors said police were called to the location around 6.30am with reports two men in a white Mazda Econovan had been seen entering the grounds and heading towards the empty warehouse.
The witness, an off-duty security guard, accompanied police to the building while other guards set up a perimeter around the site.
Upon arrival, police claim they saw McKillop’s co-accused, Allan Wakeford, running from the building. He was arrested on the spot.
Officers then entered the powerhouse where they allegedly discovered the van stocked with copper cabling, as well as a large number of tools believed to have been used to remove the wire.
McKillop was found a short time later hiding in a dark storeroom within the lining of the building roof. He was wearing a pair of rigging gloves at the time, police said.
A large pair of bolt cutters were also seized at the scene.
During a conversation with police, McKillop allegedly confessed to the crime, saying “I was only getting it to scrap and get on” – the latter understood to be a reference to his frequent use of amphetamines.
Both men were taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station and charged with an aggravated enter dwelling charge and possessing housebreaking implements.
Police documents tendered during McKillop’s bail application in court on Monday said the copper cabling, valued at about $3,000, was returned to Bluescope via security staff.
Prosecutors urged Magistrate Michael Stoddart to refuse McKillop bail, saying he had a lengthy criminal history dating back to the late 1970s.
They argued there was an unacceptable risk he would continue breaking the law if released back into the community.
However, McKillop’s lawyer said her client would agree to strict bail conditions including living with his mother, abiding by a curfew and reporting to police daily.
But Magistrate Stoddart said he could not overlook the apparent strength of the case against McKillop.
“It would appear you were caught on the spot,” he said, noting it was likely McKillop would serve a jail sentence if convicted.
Meanwhile, Wakeford did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.
Both men will return to court on June 15.