Jason and Craig Whitaker plead guilty to Melton factory burglary in Sunshine Magistrates’ Court

Two brothers claimed to be just “looking around” after they were caught inside a plastic manufacturing business in Melton.

Two men pleaded guilty to burglary at a High St factory in July 2023. Picture: Supplied

Two unemployed brothers were as thick as thieves when they broke into a Melton industrial site but claim they were “just looking around”.

Jason and Craig Whitaker pleaded guilty in Sunshine Magistrates’ Court to one count each of burglary following an incident at Melton last July.

The court heard during a sentencing hearing the Melton duo gained entry to plastic manufacturing business, MHG Plastic Industries on High St on the evening of July 9.

The Whitaker brothers pleaded guilty to burglary at Melton business, MHG Plastic Industries.

Magistrate Michael McNamara asked the pair, who were self-represented, what they were doing in the facility and if they were looking for copper, but they denied it.

“No, we went inside and it was empty, there was nothing there, no tools or nothing, we were just looking around,” Jason, 37, told the court.

His younger brother Craig, aged 35, told the court the brothers used to work in plastering but were both out of work.

Jason said he lost his drivers’ licence and needed to get it back so he could pursue work.

Magistrate McNamara fined the brothers $1000 each and convictions were recorded.