Damian Brewer: Burglar stole $10k bike from Velo Therapy, Seaford
No Cadel Evans: Cops put the brakes on a fancy bike-stealing thief, who also has a taste for fine watches.
South East
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A burglar broke into a Seaford shop and picked out the most expensive bike in the store before being nabbed riding the rare ride just two days later, a court has heard.
Damian Brewer stole the $10k Specialised machine from Velo Therapy after breaking in by using a recycling bin and jemmy bar.
The Carrum Downs 48-year-old thief also nicked a watch after partly wrecking the Wells Rd store in his bid to get at the costly cycle.
Brewer, a former navy seaman, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft, weapons and bail breach charges at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The court heard in the early hours if April 12 this year Brewer walked up to the bike shop and pushed a recycling bin next to the gate.
He then used that to jump the fence and, with the aid of a jemmy bar, broke through a rear door.
That access was blocked by display boards, but Brewer just kicked them down, knocking several bikes onto the floor in the process.
He then went straight to the most expensive cycle in the shop, a Specialised bike worth $10,800 that was set up on a stand, and grabbed it.
Brewer also took the time to pick up a $600 watch on his way out.
The incident had been captured on CCTV, and he had also left a distinctive footprint behind.
Two days later a police patrol saw Brewer, who was well-known to them, riding the unusual bike in Frankston North.
He saw the cop car and tried to pedal off, but was soon cornered.
He refused to tell officers where he got the bike and became aggressive when taken back to the station, yelling “f*** off you c***s” each time they asked him a question.
Brewer, who was on bail at the time, was still wearing the same Nike shoes that had been seen in the CCTV footage and also had a knuckleduster knife hanging around his neck.
Defence lawyer Natasha Wolan said her client had serious drug and alcohol issues dating back more than decade that had begun after the death of his brother.
She said he stole the bike because he needed funds to feed his drug habit, which had peaked at using one point of ice intravenously each day.
She said the 84 days he had spent in custody had given him a chance to detox and he was looking forward to going to live with his mother when released.
Magistrate Vicky Prapas said burglaries, and the damage caused, had significant impacts on small businesses.
She said the fact Brewer was found with the stolen cycle two days later was concerning, and the deliberate choice he had made to seek out the “prized bike” showed a level of planning.
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on July 12.
