Matthew Scott jailed for two years after Dan Murphy’s, Target robbery spree

A man was involved in a string of robberies which only ended after he was arrested while trying to hide from police after smashing his way into Dan Murphy’s.

Matthew John Scott broke into Bega's Target store, smashing windows to get it. Picture: Alasdair McDonald

A south coast man has been sentenced to two years in prison after stealing more than $1000 worth of mobile phones and smashing shop fronts during a string of robberies.

Matthew John Scott, 32, from Bega, was sentenced in Batemans Bay Local Court on December 7 by Magistrate Doug Dick, after pleading guilty to break and enter and steal, and two counts of break and enter with the intent to commit a serious indictable offence.

Matthew John Scott broke into Bega's Dan Murphy's store intending to steal alcohol before his arrest. Picture: Alasdair McDonald

Scott smashed windows at a number of south coast businesses over three days before police arrested him trying to hide behind a wall near Dan Murphy’s on November 11.

His spree began when he broke the front glass doors of the Bega post office at 11.45pm on November 9, stealing nine mobile phones valued at almost $1200.

Over the next few days he also smashed windows in order to break into the town’s Target store and Dan Murphy’s bottle shop.

Matthew John Scott stole nine phones valued at almost $1200 from the Bega post office. Picture: Alasdair McDonald

Police arrested Scott in the early hours of November 11 after being called to the Dan Murphy’s where they found him hiding behind a nearby wall.

He will be paroled on November 10, 2021.