Malcolm Daniel Crook pleads guilty to break and enter and stealing

It was a crook move and it almost paid off but after more than two years one thief’s luck has finally run out.

Mackay Court House

An aptly named thief has been slammed as a mug after he and a mate used bolt cutters to break into a Mackay building company so they could knock off tools.

Malcolm Daniel Crook did a runner after the crime and avoided detection for years, until now when he was nabbed on a warrant.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard Crook was with another person when the pair went to CPB Contractors at Mount Pleasant between 8.40pm and 10pm on October 16, 2022.

They used bolt cutters to get into a shipping container and steal a generator, and a drill worth up to $2000 was also taken – the duo captured on CCTV footage with the stolen items.

Crook pleaded guilty to enter premises and commit indictable offence by break, failing to appear in court and four breaches of bail for failing to report.

The court heard Crook’s co-offender was never found and the stolen items have never been recovered.

“He did a runner three years ago. Any discounts available to him for an early and timely plea no longer apply,” Magistrate Damien Dwyer said, adding it was “offending in the night with others”.

“That makes it more serious in my view.”

The court heard when the offending occurred Crook had been living an itinerant life and since he had been keeping himself busy and was not employed.

He had also spent 10 days in custody on remand.

Mr Dwyer said Crook had made no attempt to hand himself in for pay any restitution and also added the theft was sophisticated and premeditated.

“Obviously they targeted this place,” he said.

“You and one of your mug mates decided for whatever reasons … went there with a purpose, taken bolt cutters … cut your way into this place.”
The court heard a warrant was issued in March 2023.

“You have done nothing to show the community that you are remorseful for what you did,” Mr Dwyer said.

Crook was jailed for 15 months with 10 days declared time already served and he was released on parole.

Mr Dwyer said the owners had had three years to chase restitution so he was not going to order any.