Cat burglar William John Radley used hand cream to block CCTV
A court has heard about the unusual method used by a homeless cat burglar to block the view of CCTV cameras as he was stealing from Gold Coast businesses.
Crime and Court
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A HOMELESS cat burglar scaled the rooves of car washes and used an angle grinder to force his way into the businesses to steal thousands of dollars worth of coins.
William John Radley, 38, smeared CCTV cameras with hand cream to block their view during his crime spree across the Coast between November, 2018 and April this year.
He was fuelling an addiction to ice (methamphetamines).
Radley faced Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday after 135 days behind bars.
He pleaded guilty to 19 offences, including entering premises by break, stealing, possessing housebreaking implements, possessing tainted property, possessing methamphetamines, breaching bail, drug driving and driving while disqualified.
In one example, police prosecutor Sergeant Reece Foort told the court Radley broke into True Blue Carwash at Nerang between 4-4.30am on February 19.
“He used an angle grinder to cut a hole in the roof and gain entry to the office area,” he said.
“He then used a jimmy bar to gain access to the change dispensing machine.
“The business estimated that he decamped with about $3000 in $1 and $2 coins.”
On several occasions, Radley used tools to break into coin machines, including at University Square Laundromat, Parkwood on March 17.
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“About 2.45am a witness contacted police as they had observed the defendant drilling into machines at the victim business,” Sgt Foort said.
“Police attended and observed the defendant using a grinder and screwdriver to gain access to the coin recesses of the machines there.
“He was using hand cream to cover the CCTV lenses.”
Radley caused thousands of dollars damage.
University Square was up to $12,000 out of pocket, Sgt Foort said.
Defence lawyer Ashleigh Smith, of Gatenby Law, told the court Radley’s first stint in prison was “what he needed” to overcome ice addiction.
Radley, a homeless pontoon and jetty repairer, “abused meth as an escape” after the death of a family member and the end of a relationship.
Ms Smith said Radley had been “merely supporting a severe drug habit”.
He planned to return to work with a new employer.
Magistrate Kerry Magee said Radley lived “a fairly blameless life” before his two-page criminal history began in 2016.
She weighed the “recidivist and persistent nature” of the offending against future prospects.
Radley was sentenced to a 12 month overarching jail term and released on immediate parole.
He was disqualified from driving for four years and must pay $1400 compensation.
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