Adelaide man Steven Desira pleads guilty to Melbourne thefts after stealing 7-Eleven sausage roll

A South Australian man hunted by specialist police for a sophisticated Melbourne theft spree was busted after stopping to steal a sausage roll from a 7-Eleven.

Steven Desira pleaded guilty to criminal charges. Facebook.

An Adelaide man hunted by specialist Victorian police for a suspected Melbourne theft racket was taken down after he stopped off to steal a sausage roll and a flavoured milk – valued at $8 – from a 7-Eleven.

Steven Desira, 41, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday after pleading guilty to theft from a motor vehicle, using a false document and shoplifting.

Desira used a bogus licence to hire a HiAce Van from Keysborough Bunnings on June 14 last year.

The court heard Victoria Police Southern Transit Divisional Response Unit members were “actively investigating” Desira for a “significant number of theft matters across Victoria”.

Desira, of Paralowie in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, was on the police radar for suspicion of stealing catalytic converters from various vehicles, the court was told.

Desira was caught after he stopped off for a 7-Eleven sausage roll.

Specialist police received a tip-off Desira was “believed” to be getting around Melbourne’s southeast in the HiAce.

Despite the police heat, Desira stopped off at Dandenong 7-Eleven where he nicked a sausage roll and a flavoured milk worth a combined $8.

Investigators roaming the area for Desira got lucky when police spotted the thief's van at the Heatherton Rd 7-Eleven car park early on June 16.

A quick-thinking police sergeant pulled into the car park to get a better look at the driver and positively identified Desira.

However, police did not arrest Desira at the scene.

Investigators later located the van outside a Dandenong unit block with its catalytic converter missing.

Desira was caught and arrested with evidence linking him to the HiAce swindle on June 20.

Desira told police he “can’t remember” stealing the sausage roll but later admitted to the heist.

“I probably stole the sausage roll … I think I did,” Desira said.

Desira also denied hiring the van from Bunnings.

“No, my mate hired a van,” he said.

“I didn’t hire the van, someone else hired the van.”

Desira, who is on remand, will front court at a later date.