Frankston Magistrates Court: Austin Searancke’s bail refused for alleged car theft
A Frankston man who allegedly stole a car in Malvern just three weeks after getting bail has begged the courts to not throw him back behind bars.
South East
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A Frankston man who allegedly stole a car in Malvern just three weeks after getting bail has begged the courts to not throw him back behind bars.
Austin Searancke, 23, fronted Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Friday to apply for bail after he’d been charged with theft of motor vehicle, possess drug of dependence, possess cartridge ammunition.
Mr Searancke was part of a trio arrested after an alleged aggravated burglary in Malvern on March 27.
Police allege two unknown men forced open a side gate of the Malvern home on Thursday before entering the house about 5:30am.
The homeowner — who was awake — heard noises and went to investigate when one of the alleged offenders smashed the front window and yelled, “I got a knife”.
The alleged offenders kicked the front door, entered the house, and confronted the homeowner.
One alleged offender brandished a large knife and demanded the keys to the homeowners’ vehicles — threatening to stab him if he did not comply.
The alleged victim handed over two sets of car keys — an Audi and a Jaguar — to the alleged offenders before they fled in the cars.
A few hours later, Mr Searancke was captured on CCTV allegedly in the passenger seat of one of the stolen cars, which was being driven by an unknown man.
Police attended a home on Wave St in Frankston where Mr Searancke and the two alleged co-offenders were arrested.
Police also allegedly found a small bag containing ammunition and meth on the 23-year-old.
There are no allegations that Mr Searancke was involved with the aggravated burglary in Malvern.
On Friday, the court heard Mr Searancke was bailed on March 7 — three weeks before the alleged car theft — and was to appear in April for five separate alleged offences.
He previously had a firearm prohibition order imposed.
The court also heard Mr Searancke had a “significant” drug history, was homeless and unemployed and would need emergency accommodation if he was bailed.
However, the prosecution, while opposing bail, argued that Mr Searancke would “commit indictable offences if bailed” and was “dangerous to the safety and welfare of the community”.
Mr Searancke’s lawyer said her client was a “vulnerable person” in custody because he had an intellectual disability, “trust issues”, “heightened anxiety”, and ADHD.
Magistrate Charles Tan refused bail, saying Mr Searancke was an “unacceptable risk of endangering the safety and welfare” of the community.
Mr Searancke will return to court in April.
