Simon John Baird faces Ballarat court for stealing power tools, jewellery from Bacchus Marsh home

A thief who scouted out a Bacchus Marsh home jumped a fence and ransacked the property of more than $13,000 worth of valuables, a court has heard.

Simon Baird, 49, faced Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. Picture: File

Up to $13,000 worth of power tools and jewellery are yet to be recovered after a thief jumped a residential back fence and snatched the items in Bacchus Marsh.

Simon John Baird, 49, appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to burglary and theft at Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The court heard Baird went to a home in Bacchus Marsh on the afternoon of August 15, 2024 and spent 20 minutes surveilling the premises before jumping a fence and entering through a broken back window.

Within 70 minutes he had ransacked the home, stealing a “large assortment” of power tools, batteries, keys, a socket set, torches, a knife, ID documents, and jewellery.

Baird then took the items to an abandoned building, returning two hours later with a hand trolley to remove a firearm safe from the home’s laundry.

He attempted to hide the safe, which held four guns, under a cover in the backyard.

The firearms were accounted for when Baird was arrested four days later, but the court heard $12,000 to $13,000 worth of power tools and jewellery had not been found.

Baird will return to court on January 21.

He has spent 148 days in custody.