Andrew Tomich: The Glen Shopping Centre’s Golston Jewellery allegedly hit by thief
A ponytailed bandit allegedly netted close to half a million dollars’ worth of top-shelf jewellery from a southeast shopping centre.
Inner East
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A ponytailed bandit who allegedly netted close to half a million dollars’ worth of jewels from a southeast shopping centre has been refused bail.
Andrew Tomich, of Clayton, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday over the huge alleged heist from The Glen Shopping Centre’s Golston Jewellery store on December 30.
The court heard Tomich broke the shop’s lock and smashed through six display cabinets with a sledgehammer before helping himself to $497,000 worth of treasures including diamond earrings, gold rings, pearls and emeralds.
An employee told police a suspicious man matching Tomich’s description visited the store on December 18 and asked which items were real or fake for trying on only.
The strange customer left without touching or buying anything, the court heard.
Monash detective Senior Constable Nick Pawley said officers had connected Tomich to a string of other alleged thefts across Melbourne’s southeast in the same month after clothing and a backpack worn in CCTV matched items found at his home during a raid on January 5.
More of Tomich’s alleged crimes include a stolen safe and $800 from Chapel St’s T2 store, cash register and $600 from Notting Hill’s Little Collins Cafe, $800 from the Glen Shopping Centre’s Marcelleria butcher and $250 plus a charity tin from an M-CITY store at Monash.
Tomich’s alleged loot from across all the alleged incidents exceeded $500,000, the court heard.
Tomich, who has a criminal history littered with theft, burglary and dishonesty offences dating back to the 80s, had “pages and pages” of priors, the prosecution said. struggles with drug addiction and takes methadone in custody, the court heard.
The court was told Tomich struggles with drug addiction and was taking methadone while in custody at Marngoneet Correctional Centre.
Tomic’s lawyer Rory Hudson said his client had a stable address available to him in Burwood and was willing to participate in drug rehabilitation programs outside of custody.
He said there was no forensic evidence linking Tomic to the alleged crimes.
“There’s no DNA, no fingerprints, no one arrested at the scene and nothing stolen from the alleged burglaries located at his home,” Mr Hudson said.
Magistrate Felicity Broughton said it was clear Tomic had “ongoing chronic problems with drugs and addiction.”
Tomic, who appeared via video link, was denied bail.
He will return to court for a contested hearing in July.
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