Stephen Lambert, 31, now of Deniliquin and previously Timboon, did not appear in Warrnambool Magistrates Court for a contest mention hearing.

The hearing was adjourned until October 10 to allow police detectives to conduct further investigations.

Police said that on the morning of May 16 last year a manager of the Thomas Jewellers store received a telephone call from a man who wanted to buy a neck chain for a friend, saying the friend would come in and select the chain.

At 3pm the friend came in and picked out a sterling silver chain and black watch valued at $1250.

The phone caller also said he would like a watch and a silver and white watch worth $1100 was selected.

A credit card number was conveyed, entered, payment made and the friend left with the purchases.

Two months later the transaction was reported to police.

On May 17 another friend went to the Warrnambool BCF store to buy camping equipment for a nephew.

He selected goods valued at thousands of dollars including a generator, queen size mattress, sunglasses, knife pack, tent and an ice box fridge freezer.

Four days later two men entered the store, selecting rods, reels and drinks and all the items picked out were then paid for over the phone.

That day another friend went to Sacks Jewellers and a suspect transaction was reported to police.

The man selected a chain and platinum ring valued at $3295.

After lying to police, a friend named Stephen Lambert as being the man behind the purchase.

Police investigations indicated there had been seven suspect transactions on a City Bank Hong Kong card while the owner still had the card.

A man also made an inquiry at Warrnambool's Harvey Norman store about a sound bar,  he used a credit card number to pay $795 and left a mobile telephone number.

Police allege there is security camera footage of Mr Lambert picking up the sound bar and the phone number was Mr Lambert's number.

Magistrate Ron Saines was told Mr Lambert has prior court appearances.