Harley Guerra allegedly steals handbag from Adairs Northland staff

A young man allegedly stole a woman’s handbag from a Preston furniture shop and then went to her home to get his hands on her car.

Harley Guerra, 23, faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Source: Facebook

A Roxburgh Park man allegedly stole car keys from a worker at a Preston shopping centre and then showed up at her home to try to nab her car.

Harley Guerra, 23, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where it was heard

that between the evening of April 21 and the morning of April 22, 2023 Guerra, while unlicensed and on bail, allegedly drove to Northland in a car bearing number plates stolen from Craigieburn.

The court heard he entered Adairs and went to the rear of the shop, through an unlocked door to a staff area, and allegedly stole a handbag containing a woman’s wallet, keys to a BMW, and a phone.

Days later, Guerra allegedly attended the same staff member’s address early in the morning wearing a face mask and baseball cap.

The BMW for the keys he allegedly stole was parked and blocked by another car.

He was said to have smashed the second car’s window and rolled it away.

The court heard when he got into the BMW, he drove forward instead of reversing and was stopped by some bushes.

Residents of the home were alerted to Guerra’s presence and he allegedly escaped.

Defence lawyer Kate Perry said Guerra, who has an intellectual disability, was “too young and too vulnerable” to be given a custodial sentence for the alleged offending, though he has spent four months in detention.

She submitted that Guerra be bailed to residential rehabilitation.

The prosecution, on the other hand, said Guerra’s “repeated” alleged conduct showed previous attempts at rehabilitation had failed and prison was appropriate.

The matters were adjourned for more defence material to be gathered and will return at a later date.