Bob Jal offender fronts court over multiple car thefts

A troubled teen has stolen prestige cars from wealthy suburbs across Melbourne including a $150,000 Range Rover.

Annabel Thomson’s sister’s boyfriend Todd Blasse chased Bob Jal and another intruder from the Brighton home. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A teenager has admitted his role behind a slew of prestige car thefts from some of Melbourne’s most exclusive suburbs.

Bob Jal, 18, of Doveton, appeared in the County Court on Monday via video link and pleaded guilty to seven charges of theft, two of attempted theft and single charges of aggravated burglary, attempted aggravated burglary and dangerous driving.

He was remanded in custody for further plea on May 17.

Among the expensive cars Jal stole included a $150,000 Range Rover, a $50,000 Toyota HiLux ute, a $40,000 Subaru and a $75,000 Land Rover from locations across Malvern and Brighton over a period of several days in June last year.

In one case, a family dog alerted sleeping residents Annabel Thomson and her sister’s partner Todd Blasse to Jal’s illegal entry into their Warleigh Grove home at Brighton East on June 6, 2023.

Annabel Thomson and her dog Austin came across two masked intruders, including Bob Jal, in her home. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Jal was one of two armed people who entered the home just after 7.30am and were chased off by Mr Blasse.

He then stole a white Toyota HiLux from Fisher St in Malvern East and drove it to Dandenong where he attempted to steal a fifth car.

Jal was unsuccessful and returned to the HiLux, but was pursued by police — including by the Air Wing — at Noble Park and arrested a short time later.

He clocked speeds of up to 120km/h on the Princess Highway during the police chase and the court heard multiple motorists have had to take evasive action to avoid head-on collision.

Jal also drove through a red light.

The prosecution called for Jal to be sentenced to adult custody while Jal blamed his offending partly on drug use and HIS mental health. His lawyer told the court the theft of vehicles was opportunistic and Jal onsold the items he found in the vehicles for financial gain.

Judge Carolene Gwynn said Jal has shown no intention of helping himself and all he’d been doing in his remand cell was stare at the wall, unlike other prisoners who accessed appropriate help to turn their lives around.

She has ordered a psychiatric report.