Bailey Evans: Lake Cathie man pleads guilty to 22 counts of break and enter
A man who used hammers, rocks and bricks to break into businesses and steal jewellery, Viagra, cash and Ritalin over a two-month crime spree has pleaded guilty in court.
Mid-North Coast
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A recidivist kleptomaniac with a history of stealing has pleaded guilty to 22 charges of break and entering Port Macquarie businesses over a two-month period last year.
Bailey Evans, 22, of Lake Cathie appeared in Port Macquarie Court in January where police tended facts of a detailed set of events that took place between October and December last year.
According to the facts, Mr Evans was largely acting alone when he smashed up to 19 businesses with hammers, bricks and rocks before stealing or attempting to steal items from each.
All businesses hit where unattended at the time, given the early morning hours in which his offending occurred. Items taken range from cash and cans of soft drink to high-end jewellery and Ritalin taken from Katecaters, Waniora Village, and 16 boxes of Viagra stolen from a nearby pharmacy.
CCTV cameras mounted at a number of businesses show the 22-year-old wearing dark black vans, a white Everlast hooded jumper and tanned boots which were later retrieved from his home when police seized them for evidence.
DNA, being blood, which spilt from a wound caused by smashing through glass was also part of the police case against him.
Mr Evans made no application for bail, and it was formally refused.
He will be sentenced on February 25.
“The allegations are that between 21st of October right up until the 7th of December, Mr Evans undertook a number of break and enters around the Port Macquarie-Hastings local government area,” Magistrate Darcy said.
“It would appear to be a strong circumstantial case, given that there are a number of items of clothes that were found at the premises where he was residing.
“Mr Evans‘ DNA was also detected at one of the break and enters, being blood that was found on the floor beneath the cash register matching that of Mr Evans.
Police charged Mr Evans with 23 offences, the bulk of which related to break and enters throughout Port Macquarie. There is one other charge relating to drug possession.
Police facts state that Mr Evans’ offending began on October 21 where he broke and entered the Hill Cafe at Thrumster and stealing $600.
A second business, the Your Discount Chemist, located in the same vicinity was also broken into and $300 stolen. Both where smashed-up with bricks on entry.
Facts also state Mr Evans, while in the company of another person, smashed entry into the Port Macquarie Golf Club on November 11 using a rock and stole $3000.
Some of that money was taken from a charity tin which was later disposed of on the 10th fairway of the course.
Two weeks later on November 20, Mr Evans then broke into the Beantree Cafe, where it is he stole a silver Apple Macbook Pro Laptop, a cash register and a tips jar.
Four days later, the crime spree then turned to Laurieton, where on November 24 he broke into a seafood business, and in the company of another person, stole $50.
Items of clothing he was seen wearing on CCTV matched those worn during his previous offences.
A sum of $400 was then taken from the Fat Fish Cafe at Bonny Hills on the same day.
Two days later on November 26, he then targeted the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre where he stole $850.
He then made his way over to the Lake Innes Shopping Village, where a brick was thrown at the Charlie’s Chicken Takeaway, before he moved on to the Country Nails and Ruins Cafe.
Between December 2 and 3, he then broke into the BP on Ocean Dr and the Emerald Downs Golf Club While at Emerald Downs where he was seen on CCTV attempting steal a golf cart.
His next victim was then the Tacking Point Tavern, where he tried to jimmy open a pokie machine, unsuccessfully. He then returned to the BP with a timber sleeper and smashed a large hole in the side window.
He then broke, entered and stole from the Four Seasons Chinese restaurant and the Shelley Beach Pharmacy where he took $1000 and two boxes of Viagra.
Several businesses at Waniora Village, including Waniora Hair and Beauty, the Waniora Village Butchery and catering company Katecaters were also targeted.
Facts show Mr Evans stole $480, an antique gold necklace, plain gold ring with diamond, another ring with a diamond and sapphire, a small handbag and some prescription drugs from Katecaters.
The last premises he frequented was the Lakeside Bargains at Lake Cathie.
He is also facing one charge of possession of a prohibited drug, being .31 grams of Ketamine.
A police search conducted at his property revealed images taken on his phone during the offences. One depicts a photo of him holding cash that was taken shortly after storming and stealing from the Port Macquarie Golf Club.
A Nike backpack, Everlast hooded jumper, camouflage pants, grey beanie with eyes and nose holes cut into it, Vans shoes, tanned coloured boots and white latex gloves all used at various break ins where also seized.
Mr Evans, at only 22, already has a long history of break and entering, dating back five years to when he was a juvenile.
Police estimate the damage bill from his latest string of offences to be around $10,000. All his victims are seeking compensation.
He will be sentenced at Port Macquarie Local Court on February 25.
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