HOMELESS man who feels unsafe in the community has been jailed for four months after committing more crimes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jason Fox, 36, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court this week after every being charged with burglary and theft.
Detective Senior Constable Danny Wright, of the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit, said Fox was arrested on a warrant in early June after previously charged with the burglary and theft at a Richmond medical centre.
He had spent two days in Salvation Army accommodation in Warrnambool and then travelled to Koroit where he tried to find a place to stay.
Fox was seen trying to gain entry to a closed supermarket and he then voluntarily stayed at the Warrnambool police station for several hours before leaving.
Then there was a break-in at The Reunion restaurant where an axe was used to smash a side window.
A drawer was removed from the cash register.
The burglar activated an alarm leaving the business and the owner attended. He saw Fox nearby.
Police also arrived soon after and spoke to Fox but did not realise a burglary had been committed.
That morning the restaurant owner found the cash drawer wrapped in a jumper hidden in a nearby car park.
The draw had not been opened and still contained cash but $150 in coins had been removed.
There was also an attempted burglary at a nearby travel agency also involving the use of an axe.
Fox was arrested but not able to be interviewed by police because of an acquired brain injury and his mental state at the time.
Detective Senior Constable Wright said Fox had also graffiti tagged a bank ATM and was soon after arrested.
He had hair clippers believed to have been stolen from Target.
Fox has extensive interstate prior court appearances in the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
There is a warrant out for his arrest in Queensland.
The detective said Fox had only been in Victoria a month and left Melbourne after giving police information about drug trafficking.
Fox was afraid for his safety if he stayed in Melbourne.
When arrested he was also found in possession a hair clippers believed to be stolen from Target in Warrnambool.
Solicitor Matt Senia said Mr Fox had an acquired brain injury, suffered bipolar, had not been taking his range of medications and was also withdrawing from a heroin addiction.
At 8pm on June 5 was in Carlton and broke into three cars in an underground carpark stealing cash and clothing.
He was identified on security camera footage.
Magistrate John Lesser sentenced Fox to 120 days in custody with 47 days counted as served.
He said Fox had a chequered history in a number of Australian states and drug issued appeared to be at the heart of his offending.
The magistrate said if given support it was hoped Fox could get on top of his issues and stop offending.
