A teen serial thief who allegedly taunted police – “I always get bail, I’ll be out in two hours” – has been refused bail over his latest alleged break-in at an Illawarra RSL club.
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Corey Milgate is accused of cutting off power to the Coledale club before pocketing $580 in coins from the tills and tip jar, and a labrador-shaped money box full of donations for Guide Dogs Australia.
Passers-by later found items including the tills and money box dumped on the Coledale foreshore.
Police will allege Milgate’s DNA was on a pair of yellow washing up gloves that were among the discarded items.
In Wollongong bail court on Saturday, the 19-year-old denied any involvement in the break-in.
Speaking on his behalf, lawyer Anthony Goodridge said he proposed an innocent explanation for the forensic evidence.
“He tells me that the glove may well be a glove that he used at home to wash up and that he didn’t commit the break and enter,” Mr Goodridge said.
Police say CCTV footage captured at the Lawrence Hargrave Drive club on December 10 shows a person in a hooded jacket approaching at 11.49pm, shortly before an electrical switch on the side of the building was flicked, disconnecting the venue’s power supply. The footage shows a person wearing yellow gloves as they attempt to get inside.
Staff found a glass door smashed and cash and items missing when they returned the next morning, about 5.30am. Passers-by alerted police to discarded items on the sand including the yellow gloves – one inside-out, the other with its insides protected from the elements – about an hour later.
Milgate has pleaded guilty to recent break-ins at Ruby’s Cafe (Bulli), Balgownie Mini-Mart, Tarrawanna Post Office and Cafe Bulli, and was on bail when he was arrested at his grandmother’s Bellambi home on Friday morning.
Police say his grandmother agreed to show them the cupboard where she stores her washing up gloves, and that she told them a yellow pair was missing.
Officers helped Milgate into a caged police vehicle and recorded what he allegedly told them: “Come back and see me later. I’ll get bail again. You’re wasting your time. I always get bail, I’ll be out in two hours.”
In court Saturday, Sergeant Davis spoke briefly to oppose bail.
“He’s already on bail conditions and it hasn’t stopped him committing further offences,” she said.
Milgate also spoke - “if I could have a word to your Honour?” – but thought better of continuing once warned his comments were being recorded.
Bail was refused until Monday, when the matter returns to court.