Sandy Pira: Bleary-eyed burglar blames ‘sleepwalking’ for thefts

A man who broke into three places in one night before a dramatic chase and citizen’s arrest, says he was asleep through it all.

Generic image: A tired thief says sleepwalking is to blame for him committing burglaries.

A restless robber nabbed in a citizen’s arrest after stealing from two houses in the middle of the night says he’s not a thief – he’s a “sleepwalker”.

Sandy Pira also stole medication and cash from an assisted living centre and assaulted another man at a caravan park because he was not happy about being wished merry Christmas.

The Dandenong 40-year-old ice user pleaded guilty to a series of burglary, theft-related, assault, drug possession and bail breach charges at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The court heard at around midnight on January 13 this year Pira broke into a medical office of a housing complex where he was living.

He stole tablets, pills, cash and keys and took them back to his room, where they were subsequently found by police.

Two hours later he walked to a nearby house and broke in through a front window.

Pira stole a backpack, purse, driving licence, house and car keys and left, but he had been recorded on CCTV.

He walked to another home nearby and broke into that, this time while the victim was asleep inside.

He picked up a jewellery box, more car keys and a wallet and left.

But the homeowner had heard noises, and with his uncle, chased Pira down the street.

They grabbed him in a nearby driveway and performed a citizen’s arrest, holding him until police arrived.

Officers found a small deal bag of ice in his wallet as well as the missing items stolen from the two houses.

Pira told police he didn’t do the burglaries, saying he was in the area and “sleepwalks sometimes” and was in fact the victim as he had been set upon by the two men.

He also said he had found the stolen items on the street.

Pira was on bail at the time over an assault at a caravan park on December 25, 2019.

The other man had wished Pira “a merry Christmas” and walked back to his cabin.

Pira did not show any festive spirit and instead went to see the man, kicked in his door and punched him in the face.

Police were called and he had to be OC sprayed and sedated due to his erratic behaviour.

Magistrate Julie O’Donnell said Pira had mental health and drug issues and needed to be supervised upon release.

He was jailed for six months, minus 127 days he had already served, and placed on a 12-month community corrections order.

He was also ordered to repay $300 in compensation for the busted cabin door.