Corio man Robert Harvey’s $100 theft leads to discovery of stolen personal documents

A Corio man found hiding from police under a quad bike was busted with cards and passports in other people’s names.

Robert Harvey tried to hide from police under a quad bike. Picture: Facebook.

A Corio man who broke into a home to steal $100 in cash tried to hide from police by crawling under a quad bike, a court has heard.

Despite successfully breaking into a home and stealing the cash from the home, Robert Harvey was found in the area three hours later attempting to hide from witnesses and police in a garage.

Officers found him on the floor by a quad bike.

Harvey pleaded guilty to theft charges in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday but will not be sentenced until next year.

The court heard after the arrest, police searched his Washington St home and found an 18cm black handled fishing knife.

They also located licences, Medicare cards, passports not in his name and a wallet stashed full of cards belonging to other people.

During the search, police located assorted electrical items, mobile phones, two gaming consoles and assorted jewellery.

His defence lawyer, Megan Campbell, agreed sentencing Harvey would be “particularly complex” given his “significant criminal history”.

She has asked the court to adjourn the matter to allow his legal team time to obtain a psychological report.

“(It will) really capture his tragic personal history and his multiple and overlapping diagnoses,” Ms Campbell said.

She added the report would separate Harvey’s offending with mental health issues and drug abuse.

Magistrate Peter Mellas allowed the defence time to submit these documents and held over sentencing for March 2023.

In the meantime, Harvey will be assessed on his suitability for a community corrections order.

Originally published as Corio man Robert Harvey’s $100 theft leads to discovery of stolen personal documents