Tyhg McNamara guilty of 45 charges in months-long spree

A relentless thief burgled two Ocean Grove homes and attempted to break into another three in a single night, as part of a months-long crime spree.

Tyhg McNamara appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court, where he was sentenced on a large number of charges. Picture: Facebook.

A drug-addled thief who used syringes in an attempt to lock-pick his way into a shopping centre has been urged by a magistrate to take his rehabilitation seriously.

Tyhg McNamara, 21, appeared in Geelong Magistrates’ Court via prison link on Thursday, having previously pleaded guilty to 45 offences from a months-long spree between October last year and August this year that spanned Melbourne and Geelong.

The charges included burglary, attempted burglary, theft, drug possession, car theft, handling stolen goods, wilful damage and possessing a controlled weapon.

During the spree, he was living in Heidelberg West, Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove.

According to court documents, on one occasion in October last year, McNamara was seen by a witness attempting to lock-pick his way into Gateway Plaza Shopping Centre in Leopold using syringes.

In December, McNamara and a co-accused stole a car in Heidelberg West, before dumping it in Kingsville and stealing another car, which they drove to Ocean Grove.

McNamara tried to break into houses in Norlane, Bell Park and Ocean Grove, and was also seen looking through boats in Queenscliff.

In June, he was successful in breaking into an Ocean Grove home, leaving fingerprints at a rear window before he rummaged through the home and smashed a white porcelain jug.

The Ocean Grove homeowner, who was on holiday in New Zealand, called police after receiving an alert.

Two months later, McNamara broke into two Ocean Grove homes and attempted to break into three more.

During the period, McNamara shoplifted and was arrested multiple times, but was often too drug-affected to be interviewed.

During one interview, he told police his bad drug habit “forced him to steal” and that he was trying to change his ways, having organised to go to rehab.

Following one arrest, he was found in possession of ice and a pocket knife, and later he was found with a hatchet, box cutter and cannabis.

He told police “Centrelink doesn’t pay me enough” and said he had the axe for “self defence”.

McNamara’s lawyer, barrister Georgia Suhren, told the court an assessment for her client’s suitability for Bunjilwarra Residential Rehabilitation could be completed by January 8, with a bed potentially available later that month.

She submitted McNamara had “served enough time”.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Denise Frame said she did not take issue with that assessment, as “another month would be disproportionate”.

Magistrate Franz Holzer convicted and fined McNamara, along with a sentence of 128 days jail, reckoned as time served.

Mr Holzer also placed McNamara on a 12 month undertaking, to “explore and receive alcohol and drug supports”.

He urged McNamara not to stick his head in the sand upon release, but actively explore drug and alcohol treatment, as opportunities to take part in residential rehabilitation are hard to come by.

“It’s going to be really beneficial to you … (Bunjilwarra) is an ideal place to be at,” he told McNamara, who is Indigenous, noting it had the right cultural support for him.

“These places don’t go on trees, they’re scarce as hen’s teeth and the reality is I really think it’d benefit you.”

Originally published as Tyhg McNamara guilty of 45 charges in months-long spree