A COLAC woman has offered a $5000 bail surety to free her drug addict son she said stole over $60,000 from her business.
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James Felekos, 30, of Wilson Street, Colac, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Thursday via video-link.
He is charged with burglary and theft offences, as well as fleeing police at speed on two separate occassions in Terang and Camperdown.
The court heard the alleged burglaries occurred between September 18 and October 26 last year.
Mr Felekos is accused of breaking into properties at Point Cook, Norlane, and Dreeite South and stealing cameras, electronics and power tools worth thousands of dollars.
The court heard it was the third time Mr Felekos had found himself in custody over similar offending.
During a bail application, the accused's mother Pamela said Mr Felekos was addicted to methamphetamine and she strongly supported him, despite him previously stealing over $60,000 from her Colac business.
The mother offered to provide a $5000 surety for her son if he was released on bail.
Lawyer Ian Pugh said Mr Felekos had been offered a spot at Habitat Therapeutics Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Geelong.
He said if the service was impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Felekos would reside with his mother.
But Senior Constable Paul Heywood said Mr Felekos had re-offended within 20 days of being released from prison and was an unacceptable risk of continuing to commit burglaries in order to fund his drug habit.
He said Habitat was not completely secure and relied on clients' willingness to be involved and comply with their bail conditions.
"I don't think a surety or any (bail) conditions will stop him from re-offending," Senior Constable Heywood said.
Magistrate Mark Stratmann said Mr Felekos had strong family supports, a stable address and support services outside the prison system.
But, he said the risk of the man re-offending and further endangering the community was too high.
He remanded the man in custody until April 27.
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