A 19-YEAR-OLD Hamilton man has indicated he will plead guilty to stealing a range of items — including a $13,000 flute — from a young family as they slept in their home overnight Tuesday.
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Jesse Cosgrove, of Henry Street, applied for bail in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court yesterday.
He is to be charged with aggravated burglary, theft and three counts of obtaining property by deception.
The hearing was adjourned part-heard after magistrate John Lesser called for Mr Cosgrove’s mother to give evidence that he could stay with her.
Hamilton policeman Acting Sergeant Sam Austin told the court Mr Cosgrove had been staying at a Henry Street address despite the Department of Housing telling the tenant he couldn’t live there.
He said that at 4am Wednesday Mr Cosgrove got up and started wandering the Hamilton streets looking for money as he was hungry and had only $4.
Mr Cosgrove entered a property about 500 metres from Henry Street, going through an unlocked gate, garage and into the unlocked house.
He couldn’t find any money but got hold of a backpack and loaded up two computers, four hard drives, credit cards, a flute valued at $13,000 and shoes, with a total value of about $20,000.
Mr Cosgrove then went back to Henry Street and later in the morning used a credit card.
He went to McDonald’s, a supermarket and a service station, spending about $180.
Mr Cosgrove was captured on security camera footage and he was identified by police.
Officers went to Henry Street and found 19 items believed to be stolen, including the flute, but Mr Cosgrove was not there.
Just before 5pm police received a telephone call that Mr Cosgrove was back at the property.
Officers swooped, Mr Cosgrove attempted to evade them but he was arrested after a short foot pursuit.
He refused to tell police where the two computers, four hard drives and credit cards were, saying he feared being assaulted if he did so.
Acting Sergeant Austin said Mr Cosgrove had been using ice and there were concerns he had nowhere to live and would continue to offend.
Mr Cosgrove was yesterday also expected to be assessed for his suitability to serve a community corrections order.
