Former Sunshine Boy Alim Kulafi jailed for $351,000 Derrimut wreckers Toylex R Us car heist
An ex-member of a Sunshine crew once headed by slain gangsters Andrew Veniamin and Dino Dibra has pulled a $351K mega-heist.
North West
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A former member of a notorious gangland-linked western suburbs gang has been exposed as a major player in a $351,000 car yard mega-heist.
Alim Kulafi, 30, was sentenced in the County Court on Monday to a minimum three years’ jail after pleading guilty to burglary and 15 theft charges.
The former Sunshine Boys gang member and his crew raided Derrimut wreckers Toylex R Us late on September 28, 2019.
Kulafi used the cover of dark and the distraction of the 2019 AFL grand final played earlier in the day to break in and heist 15 cars worth a total of $351,000.
The court heard Kulafi and others — including Quoc-Yuong Nguyen — raided the yard, drove away with cars and returned multiple times during the near 26-hour heist.
Kulafi fled with his final score just after 8am on September 29.
The crew’s criminality was caught on CCTV and a torch, phone, glove and pair of gloves were found at the car yard.
However, the hoods remained on the run until October 2 after a Toylex wrecker spotted a stolen car in Deer Park and called police.
The court heard Toylex owners experienced “enormous distress” after working hard to build up the business.
Judge Liz Gaynor said she had “no doubt” the owners were “respectful and hardworking” after highlighting Toylex employees voluntarily drove the streets looking for stolen cars.
“They were debilitated financially by your actions,” Judge Gaynor said.
“You caused an enormous amount of damage.”
The court heard Kulafi was 17 and part of the Sunshine Boys when he saw a friend murdered with a tomahawk to the head.
The notorious gang was once led by former gangland players Andrew “Benji” Veniamin, Dino Dibra and Paul “PK” Kallipolitis.
Veniamin, Dibra Kallipolitis were all killed during the height of the Gangland War.
Despite his gang links, Kulafi grew up in a “happy home” in Sunshine and went to Sunshine Technical School.
Kulafi later completed a plumbing apprenticeship and worked as an NBN technician in Albury/Wodonga.
Kulafi, who had spent 301 days in custody, was jailed for a maximum 56 months.
Quoc-Yuong Nguyen, 35, was last November sentenced to a maximum 40 months’ jail with a minimum of two years after pleading guilty to multiple charges including burglary and theft.
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