Shane Victor Vincent sentenced at Campbelltown Court for break-ins at Leumeah

First police caught him not wearing a mask. Then they uncovered a stolen laptop from a break-in just a few hours before. Read what happened in court.

When a Campbelltown man was sprung without a mask on public transport, the officers soon discovered he was the man behind a break-in just hours before in what a magistrate has described as “remarkable” police work.

Shane Victor Vincent, 47, fronted Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday for sentencing after pleading to two counts of break and entering, two counts of possessing unlawfully obtained goods, possessing housebreaking implements and not wearing a fitted face covering under Covid directions.

Court documents state that on Feb 25, 2022 at about 8pm a man was at home at Pembroke Rd, Leumeah, with the house secured, when he heard noises and went to investigate.

He saw Vincent, who was not known to him, inside who ran away through the front door. The man then saw a laptop was missing.

A few hours later, police were patrolling at Macquarie Fields train station without a mask on. After arresting him, they discovered the laptop that had been stolen and a large blue handled flat head screwdriver in his back pocket.

He was taken to the police station but could not be interviewed as he was under the influence of methamphetamine.

Macquarie Fields train station. Picture: Google Maps

It was also revealed, according to court documents, that Vincent broke into a home on Burrinjuck St, Leumeah by smashing the rear sliding door on February 23.

He stole a small suitcase, three jewellery boxes, passports and travel documents while the homeowner was at work.

Vincent's lawyer told the court on Tuesday that his client had a longstanding drug addiction that was a “tragedy” and was linked to his offending.

“Mr Vincent has expressed to the community corrections that he wants to deal with his addiction problem,” he said.

“His mother is very supportive of him … she knows he is too old to be doing this sort of thing and it’s got to end at some point in time.”

Magistrate Robert Rabbidge said it was “remarkable” police work and commended them for their work during the ongoing Covid crisis.

“[He] has had a life of drugs and huge efforts to rehabilitate at times with little success … he has a very lengthy criminal history, very similar matters to what I am dealing with,” he said.

“Failure to wear a face mask led police to discover him which led to the discovery of the break and enter.”

Vincent was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with a nine month parole period, backdated to begin from his arrest. He will be eligible for release from November 24.