Mum dobs in man charged with theft of $400k Ford Mustang from Ferntree Gully business

A man has fronted court charged with stealing a rare $400k Ford Mustang after his mum realised the car had been stashed at her home.

A man accused of stealing a rare Ford Mustang – worth $400,000 – was dobbed in by his own mum after she realised the stolen car had been stashed at her home.

George Tasios, 37, fronted the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after he was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified and possessing a drug of dependence.

The homeless man is accused of stealing the 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR – the only one of its kind in Australia – from Mustang Motorsport in Ferntree Gully on October 11 at 3.45pm.

Sitting in the dock, Mr Tasios told Magistrate John Hardy he wanted to represent himself and make a bid for bail.

But Detective Senior Constable Michael Gatt told the court he opposed Mr Tasios being granted bail, noting that 420 criminal charges have been recorded against him over his lifetime.

“It appears as though there is no deterrent for Mr Tasios to stop offending and given his history, he refuses to rehabilitate,” he said.

Constable Gatt told the court two men were captured on CCTV footage loitering outside Mustang Motorsport on October 11 with drinks from McDonald’s.

He alleges Mr Tasios is captured entering through the front gate, getting into the driver’s seat of the Mustang and driving off.

The footage, which was released to the media, prompted multiple members of the public to contact Crime Stoppers.

The rare Ford Mustang.

Detectives raided a Narre Warren address – the home of Mr Tasios’ parents – on October 28, but found only the spoiler, the number plates and the badges of the Mustang.

Mr Tasios’ mum told police their son had been at their address on October 27 with the Mustang, but had left.

She said they recognised both their son in the CCTV footage and the stolen car, which had been stored at their address.

The stolen car was located four days later on November 1 at a Carrum Downs address.

The court heard it was hidden in a garage under a tarp and was bearing false number plates.

Mr Tasios was charged on Wednesday over the theft.

Constable Gatt also told the court Mr Tasios’ mum “lives in fear of her son” and now refuses to return to her home.

Mr Hardy then heard from Mr Tasios, who said he was planning to live with a friend who has supported him for two years.

But Mr Hardy said he had to deny him bail as he posed “too many unacceptable risks” at this point in time.

He described the theft of the Mustang “because of its asserted value” as “a very serious offence”.

The prized Mustang belongs to Craig Dean who owns Mustang Motorsport.

Cars were being moved from his showroom to the forecourt on October 11, making the keys accessible to the alleged thief.

Mr Dean is expected to show off his recovered car at a press conference on Friday.

Mr Tasios was remanded in custody and will return to court on November 29.