Luke Ethan Mengel faces Toowoomba Magistrates Court for Toowoomba Regional Council depot break-in

A former employee of Toowoomba Regional Council orchestrated a break-in of a compound, making off with more than $37,000 of gear including a ute.

Evidence of an intimate knowledge of a Toowoomba Regional Council depot revealed the theft of some $37,000 of equipment was committed by a former employee, a court has been told.

The court was told that police were called to investigate a break-in at a TRC compound in Goombungee on January 9, 2022, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told.

Investigations determined that about 2am that day a hole had been cut in the fence, before a number of offenders gained access to a shed by removing screws from iron sheeting.

Police prosecutor Anita Page said after a search of a building the thieves took the keys to a Mitsubishi Triton, as well as $2000 of herbicide, 20 jerry cans of unleaded petrol, a circular saw and a dual axle trailer.

The court was told a number of items were also methodically stacked, with investigators believing the methodical nature of the break-in suggested an inside job.

Ms Page said the council vehicle was fitted with a GPS tracker, which showed it left the depot about 2.07am and went down Pechey Maclagan Road to Oakey before traveling some 50km north near Cooyar where the GPS device was disabled.

Luke Ethan Mengel pleaded guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court to enter premises and commit indictable offence, stealing of a vehicle and unlawful use of a vehicle on June 8, 2022.

Police suspicions were confirmed when investigations revealed that a phone registered to Luke Ethan Mengel, a former TRC employee, pinged mobile phone towers in locations that matched the path of the stolen Triton, and there was a DNA match to evidence gathered by police.

The court was told that on February 17 the trailer was located at Acland, however the ute was never found, and on March 1 the 29-year-old was arrested over an outstanding warrant.

“Given that this was a planned incident as indicated by the facts that would make it more aggravating, it wasn’t opportunistic,” Ms Page said.

Luke Ethan Mengel faced Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to enter premises and commit indictable offence, stealing of a vehicle and unlawful use of a vehicle.

Mengel’s solicitor Phil Stainton said his client was a father of a five-year-old, with the Crows Nest man out of work for two months but separated from his wife.

While he was diagnosed with depression and anxiety five years ago, Mr Stainton told the court his client was a passenger in a serious crash in September 2020 which had left his best friend and driver paralysed which exacerbated his mental health issues.

Mr Stainton said his client first used methylamphetamine 12 years ago, and his addiction was “out of control” at the time he committed the break-in.

Acting magistrate Roger Stark sentenced Mengel to a four month jail term, suspended for two years, and placed him on 12 months probation. A restitution order was also made for $37,600 and referred to SPER.