Grant James Nalder and Martin Locandro jailed for six-month crime spree

Two Ballarat men responsible for a six-month smash-and-grab spree that crippled regional businesses and destroyed the heritage-listed facade of a newsagency have been slammed by a judge for their calculated crimes.

Ballarat men Grant James Nalder and Martin Locandro jailed for six-month crime spree.

The pair responsible for a six-month smash-and-grab crime wave that crippled regional businesses have been handed hefty jail terms.

Grant James Nalder, 35, and Martin Locandro, 42, wore balaclavas during the 10 burglaries and attempted thefts they committed between October 2018 and March 2019.

They used a stolen front end-loader to rip an ATM from a Clunes newsagency, then left it running in the street as they fled.

A total of $320,700 was stolen from the Avoca Shire Turf Club and Bendigo Bank ATMs at Lake Bolac and Beaufort.

The Ballarat men stole more than $250,000 from ATMs by smashing through shopfronts.

They attempted to steal from the Creswick Commonwealth Bank and businesses in Skipton, Ballan and Dunkeld. Nalder targeted another business in Queenscliff.

Locandro was involved in eight of the incidents, but not Beaufort or Queenscliff.

The court heard the Avoca Shire Turf Club was left devastated when $35,700 in cash was stolen from the club safe by the pair, just two days before races were being held.

The club’s manager Kate Kirkpatrick wrote in a victim impact statement that the event took a toll on the community, who felt “fear, anger and frustration”.

The turf club was required to pay $20,000 as the excess under its insurance policy, with the theft affecting the financial viability of the organisation and its ability to fund other community groups.

The court heard the loss of income and insurance claim for the Clunes Newsagency after its heritage listed facade was destroyed, totalled more than $200,000.

Nalder was sentenced to seven years jail and Locandro three years and nine months by Judge John Smallwood in the County Court on Thursday.

“The offending is serious and involves … preparation, it involves surveillance, it’s prolonged … for attempted high gain,” Judge Smallwood said.

“There was very significant damage caused which may result in court cases later on.”

Nalder and Locandro had pleaded guilty to more than 13 burglary and theft-related charges.

Nalder will be eligible for parole in nearly five years, and Locandro in nearly two and a half.

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