Trevor Rooth, 29, previously of Wilson Street, Terang, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court this week to burglary, being drunk and  two counts of theft. He was jailed for two months with a further 10 months’ suspended for two years.

Police said Rooth went to a house under renovation in Dandenong in January last year.

He carried two suitcases with him and jemmied open a window before stealing a range of items including a microwave, television, power tools, a kitchen sink and tap, with a total value of $8000.

Rooth pawned the stolen goods but left behind the suitcases and was arrested after police found his fingerprints. 

On March 3 Rooth and friends were fishing at Port Campbell when about 9pm left with some sausages to try to find a barbecue.

Rooth went to a caravan park and helped himself to beer he found in a fridge.

Its owner returned to find eight or nine stubbies of beer missing. 

The man was suspicious of Rooth, who told him the beer was his own.

Campers then followed Rooth, who again denied stealing the beer. 

Police were called and Rooth was arrested for being drunk, also telling police he and his friends had brought the beer with them.

Police found Rooth’s party had bought VB beer but the stolen stubbies were another brand. 

The court also heard that in January last year Rooth was sentenced to serve five months in jail for serious matters of dishonesty and his parole had finished only days before the Dandenong thefts.

Defence counsel Xavier Farrelly said Rooth had mental health issues as well as problems associated with alcohol and drug use.

He said since the offending his client had moved to Mortlake, where he had the support of his mother, and had started taking medication for his bipolar.

Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said Rooth had a history of offending involving crimes of dishonesty and it was clear that under the influence of alcohol or drugs the defendant thought he could act as he pleased.

He said the break-in at Dandenong was serious and houses under construction or renovation were viewed by thieves as soft targets.

The magistrate said that the owners of the tools and household items would have suffered significant losses.