Evan Bennett: Bendigo concreter’s $252,200 robbery ‘rampage’

Two Bendigo lovebirds stole more than $250,000 in goods and fake transactions during a seven-week ‘rampage’ across Central Victoria.

Evan John Bennett, 32, appeared in Bendigo County Court to plead guilty to a seven-week "rampage" of burglaries and thefts in 2019. Picture: Facebook

Two criminal lovebirds stole more than $252,000 in goods and fake transactions during a seven-week robbery “rampage” across Central Victoria and Melbourne’s northwest, a court has heard.

Evan John Bennett appeared in Bendigo County Court on Monday to plead guilty to a string of burglary and theft related charges following 11 burglaries in 2019.

The court heard his de facto partner Kate Parry drove the getaway car and helped Bennett steal thousands of dollars in goods.

He and his partner’s seven-week spree started on July 10, when the pair broke into the skylight of the Hillside Medical Centre to steal a box of blank prescription pads.

In a series of destructive break-ins, Bennett stole cash from several businesses as well as $10,000 worth of cigarettes from the Epsom Milk Bar, and two paintings of the Coliban River from LLanvair HR Gallery Bendigo.

Each time Bennett would steal the business’s eftpos machine allowing them to refund thousands of dollars to a bank account controlled by Parry.

A total of $12,000 was stolen via 78 fraudulent transactions.

On July 30 police seized more than 200 items worth $240,200 following a raid of an East Bendigo storage shed used by Bennett.

Epsom Milk Bar owner Wei Hong David Dei said the burglary on July 29 had decimated his business and terrified his children.

He said his family was too scared to leave the shop and his children could no longer sleep alone.

“Before they go to bed my heart breaks,” Mr Dei said.

Bennett also broke into the Axedale Quarry on June 26, stealing spare keys to vehicles and machinery, eight two-way radios, $830 in cash and fuel cars, an angle grinder and a 2008 Holden Rodeo.

During the rampage he smashed windows, battered a vending machine and pulled security systems off the walls.

Bennett also broke into Rebuilt Construction, at Golden Square in June to steal various items, including five Fijian wooden war clubs.

The couple also teamed up in a heist that turned into a police chase just after midnight on July 5.

As Parry drove off, chased by cop cars, Bennett ransacked National Heating and Cooling at East Bendigo.

Bennett smashed the window of a Toyota Land Cruiser, broke into the business, stole $17,500 in cash, three eftpos machines, passports and other items, four sets of keys and an Apple iPad.

The eftpos machines were used to transfer a further $4800 to their account.

Homes at Caroline Springs, East Bendigo, Longlea and Strathdale were broken into, with the stolen items turning up in his storage unit.

Andrea Ellis from Caroline Springs said she was broken emotionally, financially and physically after her home was burgled on the eve of her Japanese holiday.

“On this day my heart was broken and my life would be in turmoil,” Ms Ellis said in a victim impact statement.

Her purple suitcase, her personal documents including her passport, her laptop, and $2000 worth of Japanese Yen were taken from her home on July 19.

Bennett also stole jewellery given to her as a child by her now dead grandparents and returned on July 26 to break into her letterbox.

The law finally caught up to Bennett when he was busted breaking into DeMar Timber and Hardware, Clifton Hills while armed with a knife at 4.35am, July 23.

Evan John Bennett, 32, appeared in Bendigo County Court to plead guilty to a seven-week "rampage" of burglaries and thefts in 2019. Picture: Facebook

He was arrested and taken to Richmond Police Station where he was granted bail.

But a week later, on July 30, police searched through an East Bendigo storage unit controlled by Bennett and Parry.

Officers uncovered stolen items from the many homes and businesses, as well as drugs and personal items linking the shed to the criminal pair.

Bennett and Parry were arrested on August 2 at the Ibis Hotel in Fawkner, where officers also seized small amounts of cannabis, methylamphetamine, MDMA and other stolen property.

A search of their car found the tools of their trade, including jemmy bars, power tools, torches, bolt cutters, balaclavas, and a tomahawk axe.

Barrister John Desmond said the concreter’s life had spiralled out of control following a drug addiction.

At one stage he was using GHB three times a week.

Mr Desmond said Bennett was “embarrassed” by his crimes, not only for himself but for his young daughters.

Judge James Parrish described the 32-year-old’s crime spree as a “rampage”.

The court heard his partner already appeared before the court in relation to 40 charges, including five burglaries, and was sentenced to 188 days in prison.

Bennett has already served 731 days in pre-sentence detention and will remain in custody until he is sentenced in September.