Accused thief targeted Anytime Fitness gyms to steal cars, cards
Police say an accused thief used a membership fob to access six gyms to allegedly steal cars and bank cards before he was found asleep at a Hungry Jacks in an allegedly drug-filled stolen BMW.
South East
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An accused thief targeted six Anytime Fitness gyms across the southeast, allegedly stealing cars, bank cards and IDs from more than 30 victims, a court has heard.
Police allege a drug-addicted Parham Kousari-Rad hit franchises in Springvale, St Kilda, Glen Waverley, Brighton, Oakleigh and Armadale by using a generic membership fob which allowed access to all the centres.
Mr Kousari-Rad is accused of taking car keys, wallets, bank cards, IDs, phones and anything else of value from lockers and changing rooms, and then driving away in stolen vehicles.
He was arrested after allegedly trying to evade police with a swag of drugs, including heroin, ice, 1,4 Bute and cannabis after they allegedly found him behind the wheel of a stolen car.
Mr Kousari-Rad, 35, unemployed and homeless, applied for bail at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The court heard about 11pm on December 13 last year police came across a stolen BMW with stolen plates with its engine idling while parked at Hungry Jacks in Springvale.
Mr Kousari-Rad was allegedly asleep at the wheel with all the doors locked, and officers allegedly saw drugs inside.
They placed stop sticks and a police car behind the BMW, and waited for back-up to arrive.
When it did another police car parked in front of the stolen car and officers went to wake up the driver.
He then allegedly reversed over the stop sticks, puncturing both rear tyres and crashing into one cop car, and then drove forwards before becoming stuck on a kerb.
The court was told officers smashed the driver’s window and dragged him out.
They allegedly found heroin, ice, cannabis, 1,4 Bute, Viagra and several unknown substances, as well as a multitude of bank and ID cards belonging to other people inside the vehicle.
They also allegedly discovered an iPad, a digital watch, an EFTPOS machine, weight scales and six phones, as well as the BMW’s original number plates.
Mr Kousari-Rad couldn’t be interviewed until the following afternoon because he was so drug-affected, police allege.
Detectives have traced the stolen items – belonging to 34 victims in total – to alleged burglaries at Anytime Fitness centres last year, with CCTV evidence they say places Mr Kousari-Rad at the scene.
He faces a series of burglary, theft, handling stolen goods, trafficking drugs and serious driving charges – he was a disqualified driver at the time – allegedly committed while he was on bail.
His defence lawyer told the court Mr Kousari-Rad had already done 173 days in remand, was now clean of drugs and his family was supportive of him being bailed to their Wheelers Hill home.
He said the quantity and purity of the drugs still needed to be analysed and there was discussions being had over the thefts and handling stolen goods charges.
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Magistrate Costas Kilias said the alleged offending was “horrendous”, but his life story was “tragic”.
He said if he did release him it would not only be his last chance for bail, it would “be his last chance to save his life from being completely wasted”.
The bail application was stood down to allow time for a video link to be re-established so his sister, a psychologist, could give evidence.
Mr Kousari-Rad is listed to face court to contest the charges on August 12.