Jacob Mitrovski: Macleod dad allegedly steals from police

A Macleod man allegedly stole ammo from police before he broke into a house with a sledge hammer and took out a parking meter during a wild police chase.

Jacob Mitrovski has been refused bail.

A man allegedly broke into a house with a sledge hammer, robbed a police car, stole four vehicles and took out a parking meter amid a wild police chase — all in a few weeks.

Jacob Mitrovski, 31, fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to apply for bail, facing a series of charges including burglary and reckless conduct endangering serious injury.

The court heard Mitrovski was allegedly caught on CCTV going to a Macleod home with another man on December 21.

Mitrovski allegedly knocked on the front door to check no one was home while the other man stood watch, before Mitrovski allegedly turned off the electricity metre to deactivate the security system.

He allegedly then smashed his way into the property with a sledgehammer and stole a range of tools worth almost $2000.

Police alleged that wasn’t his only crime that day, claiming he also stole an unlocked ute from Nunawading about 9.30am and went on to steal a car from Avondale Heights just before midnight while its owner was at an ATM.

Mitrovski allegedly then stole a ute from Reservoir on January 3, before police saw him driving it erratically near Macleod station.

While being chased by police he allegedly deliberately drove at a parking meter, ripping it out of the ground, costing Banyule Council $5000.

He also allegedly sped on the wrong side of the road and resisted police when they caught up with him in Reservoir and found he had a heap of stolen goods, including $3000 of cricket equipment, and a balaclava with him.

It was heard Mitrovski had also allegedly stolen a car from Airport West on December 9 while its owner was at a cafe before he helped himself to an unlocked police car at a Melton carpark about 8.20pm and stole a Victoria Police firearm holster, magazine with ammunition, laptop, handheld radios, SLR camera and binoculars.

He was allegedly on bail during all crimes and banned from driving — having never had a licence.

Police submitted the father had “no regard whatsoever for life or property”.

His lawyer pushed for him to be granted bail on the condition he go to residential drug rehabilitation for his long standing drug addiction.

But Magistrate Helen Murphy said Mitrovski’s issues seemed to go above and beyond substance abuse, and that she was troubled by his anti-social behaviour.

“These are serious examples of serious offences,” Ms Murphy said, citing the alleged burglary and Mitrovski allegedly stealing ammunition from police.

“You have a complete disregard for the law.”

Bail was refused.

Mitrovski will return to court in June.