Police charge brothers after finding haul of items stolen from construction sites
Police have charged two brothers after uncovering a hefty haul of property stolen from high end homes under construction in a new estate north of Brisbane.
Moreton
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Brothers Patrick James Doherty and Mark Robert Doherty have fronted Redcliffe Magistrates Court charged with a number of property offences linked to the break and enter of several homes under construction in Newport.
Patrick, 27, appeared on Thursday and pleaded guilty to a number of offences including possessing instruments used for housebreaking, possessing a knife, unlawful possession of stolen property and six charges of receiving stolen property.
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His older brother Mark appeared last week, charged with similar offences. He received a 12 month sentence and was placed on immediate parole.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall referred to Mark’s matter during today’s proceedings to ensure he imposed a similar sentence on Patrick.
The court heard the brothers were pulled over by police in the Newport estate on May 12.
A witness had called police after seeing torchlight in a home under construction.
A search of the car found a bag with a number of items used for housebreaking including gloves, bolt cutters and a torch.
A variety of items taken from building sites including a towel rail, soap dish holders, toilet role holder and brass plumping fittings were also found in the car.
Police also uncovered a 60cm sword and a 30cm knife in the car.
During a search of a Mango Hill property police also found more items reported stolen from homes under construction in the Newport estate between November 2019 and May 2020, including brass piping and plumping fittings.
Duty Lawyer Kerala Drew said Patrick had been largely influenced by his older brother and that the he had since cut ties with him.
Magistrate Bucknall said breaking into building sites was a major concern on the Peninsula.
“Unfortunately it is a particularly prevalent offence and there needs to be a clear message sent that dealing with property arising from the theft from these properties will have consequences,” he said.
Patrick, who had a previous conviction for break and entering, was sentenced to nine months in relation to the possessing housebreaking instruments, nine months for possessing stolen property and 12 months for each of the receiving stolen property charges.
He was convicted but not further punished in relation to the possession of a knife charge.
Magistrate Bucknall ordered the sentences be served concurrent and set an immediate parole release date.