Rodney Faulkner: Australia Post scanner found on Bundoora crim
A Bundoora handyman has repeatedly been caught carrying unexplained stolen goods, including an Australia Post barcode scanner. A court was left wondering as to the reasons behind his odd crimes.
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A Bundoora man who prides himself on being good with his hands has repeatedly been caught carrying unexplained stolen goods, including an Australia Post barcode scanner.
Handyman Rodney Faulkner has also been found on the streets at night armed with weapons and tools used for stealing, and breaching COVID-19 restrictions.
The 46-year-old fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 31, to plead guilty to charges over a series of incidents, having been behind bars for 51 days.
Faulkner was arrested in Reservoir on July 11 after police found him riding a bicycle on Boldrewood Pde, Reservoir about 1.17am, without a helmet or safety lights.
He admitted to them he had just breached the COVID-19 lockdown by having been at a friend’s house watching TV.
Two credit cards belonging to other people were in his pocket, and a power drill, battery powered torch and wireless headphones, all believed to have been stolen, were in his backpack.
Faulkner was also carrying a pointed blade and box cutter prohibited and controlled weapons — as well as a head torch, tin snips, a screwdriver and spanner.
The court heard Faulkner told police the blade was to break open glass.
Less than two weeks earlier, on June 28, police were called to speak to him and another man loitering on Emma Ave, Reservoir at 2am.
Faulkner was carrying an Australia Post barcode scanner, someone else’s licence, and tools, was wanted by police and breaching a condition of his bail by being out at night.
The court heard Faulkner didn’t provide a valid reason for why he had the scanner, but said he’d been carrying it around for months.
Faulkner also pleaded guilty to spending hundreds of dollars on stolen credits in January and March.
The court heard the father had an extensive criminal history, including a lot of deceptions and thefts.
Lawyer Martin Radzaj said Faulkner didn’t come from a family involved in crime, and referred to himself as the “black sheep of the family”.
He said the labourer and handyman prided himself on being able to build and fix anything with his hands and had previously struggled with drug use.
Magistrate Denise Livingstone said there didn’t seem to be real explanation for Faulkner’s repeated dishonesty offending, and she needed to deter him from continuing.
He was sentenced to three months’ jail, with 51 days having already been served, and fined $500.
Ms Livingstone said she would have jailed him for five months but for the guilty plea.
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