Brandon Grant, Nathan Weightman, Samantha Govers, Sheldon Jeans: Four appear in court over alleged regional theft spree

Four people have faced court over a string of thefts across east and west Victoria, including the alleged stealing of a ski boat from the Yarrawonga Marina.

Four people implicated in the theft of property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars have appeared in court – and two will for the time being remain out of jail.

Police arrested five people on Thursday as part of a Western Region Crime Squad investigation into a string off offending across east and west Victoria.

Smythesdale man Brandon Grant, 24, and Yabba North couple Nathan Weightman and Samantha Govers, both 26, were charged with stealing a ski boat and boat trailer from the Yarrawonga Marina, worth nearly $50,000.

Nathan Weightman, 26, and Samantha Govers, 26. Photo: Facebook

Mr Weightman, in the space of about a month, was also alleged to have stolen seven cars worth roughly $340,000 from Shepparton, Cobram, Orrvale, Wangaratta, and Wodonga dealerships, as well as fuel from multiple petrol stations.

Sheldon Jeans, 27, was charged with stealing two utes from the same Horsham dealership in one day, together worth more than $155,000, plus parts and equipment worth thousands more.

The Bonshaw man also allegedly trespassed at a home in Maryborough and stole property worth $1000, including credit cards that he allegedly went on to use at Starbucks, 7-Eleven, and a United petrol station in Ballarat.

Mr Jeans was said to have stolen two defibrillators from Clunes worth $10,000 and was alleged to have been in the possession of methamphetamine.

Mr Grant, Ms Govers, and Mr Jeans were all additionally charged with the theft of a $60,000 Toyota HiLux from a dealership in Bonshaw.

Sheldon Jeans, 27. Photo: Facebook

Detective Senior Constable Haydn Templeton told the court it was understood “universal key generators” were used to map the allegedly stolen cars onto blank wireless car remotes so the vehicles could continue to be accessed.

The accused four were arrested at Mr Jeans’ property on Thursday afternoon after the allegedly stolen boat was spotted near Lake Burrumbeet, and an allegedly stolen HiLux was noticed in Ballarat.

A 21-year-old Delacombe man was also arrested and later released, and is expected to be charged in relation to several driving matters.

After an extensive hearing at Ballarat Magistrates Court on Friday, Mr Weightman was denied bail, while Ms Govers and Mr Jeans were granted it.

From the witness box Govers mouthed, ‘Don’t cry,’ and, ‘I love you,’ to Weightman, who was seated across the room.

Weightman smiled back at her when it was announced Govers’ bail application would be successful.

Mr Grant made no such application.

The group will appear again in court next month.