A PORTLAND man will appear in the Ballarat court this morning charged with causing damage in a Portland factory with a fork lift, stealing a vehicle, a fuel drive-off and assault offences.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Detective Sergeant Steve Brown, of the Portland police Crime Investigation Unit, said an offender allegedly broke into the Porthaul factory in Kalina Court overnight Friday and used a fork lift to smash a door.
The 23-year-old offender is then alleged to have driven off in a Toyota Hilux.
The same vehicle was then involved in a fuel drive-off at Linton near Ballarat at 9am Saturday when diesel valued at $70 was stolen.The man was intercepted and arrested at Ballarat and remand in custody to appear in the Ballarat Magistrates Court this morning.
He has been charged with burglary, theft of a vehicle, theft of diesel and assaulted-related offences which are alleged to have occurred in Coleraine last week.
Portland detectives are also investigating the theft of a safe containing jewellery and personal papers valued at a total of $10,000.Detective Sergeant Brown said thieves entered a home in Tamora Crescent through an unlocked rear door between 4.15pm Saturday and 3.10pm Sunday.
A safe was stolen from a rear bedroom wardrobe containing a considerable amount of jewellery, a passport and personal documents.
A water tank has also been stolen from the Mount Richmond Hall in Post Office Road, Mount Richmond.The 400 litre tank is valued at $500.Anyone with information about any of the crimes is requested to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Portland police station.