Luke Doney: Reservoir’s alleged tool thief bailed because of COVID-19
A Reservoir man has allegedly broken into construction sites, vehicles and a carport to get his hands on more than $30,000 of tools. But his alleged antics have caught up with him in a big way.
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A Reservoir man who was found bleeding by his smashed up car had allegedly just damaged and ransacked 16 vehicles then rammed a parked car.
Raids on the two Reservoir homes Luke Doney was living between allegedly then uncovered a huge amount of stolen tools, goods and mail he was hoarding.
The unemployed father fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court this month to apply for bail, charged over a number of incidents.
He was taken into custody on August 7 after he and another man allegedly tried to hide from patrolling police by crouching behind his car in a Reservoir driveway about 3.20am.
Officers allegedly then discovered more than $15,000 of stolen tools hidden under a tarp on the back seats of the car.
The court heard police believed Doney, who was meant to be home as part of bail conditions and was allegedly covered in mud, had just stolen them from a Coburg North construction site.
Doney was on bail after he allegedly used three crowbars and a grinder to try to break into the back of bottle shop Lower Plenty Liquor while another man acted as a lookout early on April 21.
He allegedly also broke into 16 vehicles and a carport in Reservoir and Preston early on November 7, 2019, stealing more than $16,000 worth of tools and hundreds of dollars or other possessions.
Doney then allegedly drove into the back of a car parked on Murray Rd, Preston about 6am, causing it almost $7000, but didn’t stop.
About 20 minutes later, not knowing what had happened, police came across Doney and his heavily damaged Volkswagen in Reservoir.
They allegedly found him with cut hands, and found blood and shattered glass inside his car, despite his car windows being intact.
Senior Constable Damien de Lorenzi said Doney was a heroin and ice user.
Lawyer Yvonne Kushner said her client was contesting the charges, and with delays in the court system caused by COVID-19, he risked spending too long in custody waiting for a hearing.
Magistrate Denise Livingstone said Doney’s history meant he probably shouldn’t have a chance at bail, and that she was really concerned about him offending if released.
But she bailed him because of the delays on the courts, insisting he return to court in a month for his bail to be reviewed.
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