Tigers FC star Nathen Megic‘s stolen tools found in drug dealer’s car

He lived every soccer player’s dream in Italy and was on Nike’s The Chance Contest, now Nathen Megic is warning tradies to insure their tools after he was robbed of $15,000 worth of equipment.

A star Canberra soccer player has warned fellow tradies after some of his stolen tools were found by police in the boot of a convicted south coast drug dealer’s car.

Twenty-eight-year old Tigers FC player Nathan Megic, who also works as an electrician, said $15,000 worth of tools were stolen during a sophisticated theft of his Wright apartment’s secure underground carpark in December last year.

Some of the tools were found by police during a vehicle stop of 29-year-old convicted Moruya drug dealer Hayden Goodsell at Mogo in April.

Goodsell, who was on parole at the time of the offences, was sentenced to six months behind bars by Bega Local Court Magistrate Doug Dick on August 24 after he pleaded guilty to receiving property stolen outside NSW and driving a car while disqualified.

Electrician Nathan Megic is warning fellow tradies to insure their gear after $15,000 worth of tools were stolen from his apartment.

The court heard Goodsell had been convicted of supplying ice last year, and would return to live with a relative when he is released in October.

“There’s more to life than living in a green (prison) tracksuit,” Magistrate Dick told Goodsell.

Mr Megic was a finalist in Nike’s The Chance Contest in 2012 before heading to Italy where he played three seasons with Serie D side A.S. Union Quinto.

He returned to Australia to work as an electrician with his father, said stolen tools are a growing “problem for tradies”.

“After I had mine stolen I went online and every day I saw posts about stolen tools,” he said.

“It’s just crazy man.

“If someone stole my TV I wouldn’t care, but the tools are my living.

“I’d been building that collection for four years, and most are still missing. It’s becoming a real problem because they can be sold online straight away.”

Tigers FC player Nathen Megic is warning other tradies to insure their gear. Picture: Supplied

He said he never thought he would become a victim of theft, and warned other tradies to insure their work tools.

“When I got the call from police I was at my sister’s apartment months later,” he said.

I’m pretty sure I told the cop to piss off because I thought it was a prank call.

“It was a shit period of my life.

“Insure your tools no matter what.”

Court documents state, Goodsell had been spotted by police driving while disqualified in Batemans Bay on April 16, before police lost sight of his car in traffic.

Hayden Goodsell was sentenced in Bega Local Court on Tuesday. Picture: Google Maps

He was later stopped by police at Mogo, where they searched his car due to “extensive recent drug related intelligence”, before discovering almost $2000 worth of Mr Megic’s tools in the boot.

Police said Mr Megic’s name had been attempted to be scribbled out on one of the toolboxes.

Goodsell, who has been in custody since his arrest, initially told police he had received the tools from his dead grandfather and an unnamed friend.

Magistrate Dick told the court Goodsell’s time behind bars had been reduced after a plea deal was negotiated between his lawyer and police prosecutors.

“If you’re going to change your life, change it now,” he told Goodsell.