Alleged ram raider Dylan Compt refused bail because he posed an unacceptable risk of reoffending

A man who allegedly stole Louis Vuitton handbags during a ram raid in Melbourne’s CBD has a 15-page rap sheet.

A stolen Nissan Navara was allegedly used to ram the Louis Vuitton store at Crown Casino. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A man accused of stealing nearly $90,000 worth of Louis Vuitton handbags during a ram raid in Melbourne’s CBD was already on four counts of bail and has a 15-page rap sheet, a court has heard.

Five men were arrested on Tuesday following a series of brazen raids in which more than $1.2 million worth of luxury goods were stolen from high-end retailers including Burberry, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, David Jones and a store in Essendon between March 6 and April 16.

One of the accused, 31-year-old Dylan Compt, was refused bail at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday because he posed an unacceptable risk of reoffending.

Police allege Mr Compt and three co-accused used a stolen Nissan Navara to ram a Louis Vuitton store at Crown Casino about 7.30am on March 23 and steal $89,950 worth of handbags.

Burberry is one of the high end retailers targeted in the brazen raids.

He is also accused of stealing an ATM containing $60,000 from Monash Hotel in Clayton and another machine containing $15,000 from Ferntree Gully Bowling Club in separate ram raids on April 3 and April 10.

Police found commemorative gold coins, a gold Versace ring, a Tissot, Chisel and two Gucci watches from Mr Compt’s Cranbourne home which they allege were the proceeds of crime.

“We’re making inquiries in relation to jewellery stores that have been burgled in Dandenong,” detective senior constable Trysten Debernardi told the court.

The court heard Mr Compt was on four counts of bail for drug and theft charges and subject to a community correction order for drug trafficking at the time of his arrest.

His criminal history also spanned 15-pages mostly for drug charges but also violence and driving offences.

Opposing bail, senior constable Debernardi said police feared Mr Compt would continue to offend and fail to answer bail if he were released.

“The accused has a history of violent offending, including assaults, assault police attempted armed robbery and possession of weapons,” he said.

“The accused has on numerous occasions failed to answer bail … police believe that there’s no conditions that can mitigate the risk that he poses to the public.”

In his submissions, defence barrister Timothy Smurthwaite said the evidence against his client was weak and there was no forensic evidence linking him to the offending.

But magistrate Rohan Lawrence refused bail, saying while identity was an issue, Mr Compt posed an unacceptable risk of endangering the public by reoffending.

While it was difficult to assess the strength of the prosecution case, Mr Lawrence said it was alleged Mr Compt was the owner of a ute used in some of the ram raids and was linked to the offending through phone data and clothing.

“(This is) organised offending and offending, which resulted in considerable damage and also loss of property,” he said.

“I’m not satisfied that conditions could be put in place that Mr Compt would abide by that would lower that risk to an acceptable level.”

Mr Compt was remanded to reappear in court on July 16.
One of his co-accused is expected to apply for bail on Thursday.

Originally published as Alleged ram raider Dylan Compt refused bail because he posed an unacceptable risk of reoffending