James Morgan of Reservoir robs Heidelberg factory, steals car
An experienced thief made some dumb mistakes on his latest crime spree, leaving blood all over a Heidelberg factory and trying to steal cars in front of a camera. His own lawyer has dubbed him “frustrating”.
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A reckless thief who smashed his way into a Heidelberg factory made it easy for police to identify him by leaving his blood all over the place.
James Morgan’s lawyer said her client was “frustrating”, and that there was no other way to put it, when he fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court over a series of charges on Tuesday, July 14.
The court heard the 37-year-old had only just been freed from jail when he tried to break into two cars and tried to steal a motorbike in front of CCTV cameras.
Morgan was clearly caught on camera as he tried to commit the vehicle crimes at
Northland shopping centre carpark on Christmas Day 2019.
The seasoned crook was then caught trying to steal a Nissan Pulsar from the same carpark by its owner — and CCTV — about 3.30pm on February 29.
The woman screamed for Morgan to get out of her car after finding him in the driver’s seat with an implement stuck into the ignition, trying to start it.
The court heard he fled out the passenger door, stealing two shirts and a pocket knife from the car in the process, having caused $500 damage to the car.
Morgan then left a trail of DNA when he broke into a carton factory in Heidelberg sometime between 10pm on Good Friday and the morning of Easter Sunday.
Leading Senior Constable Steve Wood said Morgan smashed a small window and climbed through, cutting himself in the process.
He left blood outside the window, on the windowsill, blinds and inside the window frame.
Morgan then broke into staff lockers, emptying the contents on the ground, and leaving blood and glass in front of the lockers.
He stole an iPad from reception before leaving by unlocking the back door, which he left blood on.
The court heard Morgan had also stolen a car from Greensborough overnight on April 4-5, as well as a bank card left inside, which he used to buy aon coke and cigarettes at BP Bundoora.
Police who went to his Reservoir home on April 9 found a stolen motorbike and the number plates of another stolen motorbike, before they found a stolen mountain bike at the property on April 13.
Morgan, who had also breached a community corrections order, pleaded guilty to the charges after Magistrate Ian Alger indicated he would sentence him to six months’ jail, with 92 days having already been served, and an 18-month corrections order.
His lawyer told the court, “Mr Morgan is frustrating and that’s the only way to put it”.
She said the Indigenous man, who was a qualified spray painter and chef, went back to falling in with a bad group of friends when getting out of jail.
Mr Alger said jail was like a “revolving door” in Morgan’s life.
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