Alleged axe-wielding burglary James Rakatau faces County Court in bail bid
Staff at St Kilda’s Grosvenor Hotel called police when a terrified Elwood man ran into the pub and told them he’d been robbed by a man with an axe, but police didn’t have to look far to find the alleged culprit.
Inner South
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An alleged axe wielding burglar who stormed into a sleeping man’s bedroom and threatened him before demanding he hand over cash has asked for bail.
James Rakatau, 37, faced the County Court on Tuesday charged with aggravated burglary over the frightening theft in Elwood in October 2018.
Court documents described how Rakatau and a female associate allegedly kicked in the back door of the victim’s Milton St unit before barging into his bedroom.
The victim, who was woken by the sound of the intruders’ forced entry, then saw Rakatau, who he’d met before and knew only as “Macca”, enter his room while allegedly wielding an orange tomahawk axe.
Rakatau waived the axe at his victim and demanded he; “Give me everything. Give me everything you’ve got now,” according to the documents.
Terrified, the victim handed over about $300 cash before Rakatau and his associate fled the property.
Rakatau’s associate allegedly snatched the victim’s phone from a table in his room before they left.
The victim ran across to the Grosvenor Hotel where he told staff he’d been robbed and asked them to call police.
Cops later tracked Rakatau using phone signals from the stolen phone and Rakatau’s own device to the Dick Whittington Hotel in St Kilda where they found him sitting at a pokie machine.
A search of a car outside the hotel allegedly uncovered the axe and a snap log bag believed to contain heroin. A phone cover believed to belong to the victim was also found nearby.
Detective Senior Constable Zarlasht Shahpoor told the court Rakatau had a long criminal history and police feared he would continue to break the law if freed.
His criminal wrap sheet includes a frightening attack against an ex-girlfriend where he took her to a secluded location and threatened to kill and bury her.
He also snatched a gun from a police officer’s holster in Point Cook in November 2017 when they tried to arrest him on an outstanding warrant.
Rakatau pointed the gun at detective Matthew Flood’s colleagues and yelled: “Now you freeze c—”, before repeatedly trying to pull the trigger.
detective Flood jammed his finger between the hammer and the primer, preventing the gun from firing.
The bail hearing before Judge Rosemary Carlin continues on Friday.
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