A Terang man charged over an alleged crime spree just five weeks after his release from prison has been granted bail.
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Daniel Griffiths, 25, of Swanston Street, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Monday charged with 11 offences, including theft of a motor vehicle, attempted theft of a motor vehicle and aggravated burglary.
He was released on bail with strict conditions, including he not drive a motor vehicle and not leave the house between 7pm and 6am.
During a bail application, Detective Senior Constable Richard Hughes, of the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit, told the court the alleged crime spree involved the theft, or attempted theft, of multiple vehicles in Terang and Allansford.
He said the offending occurred between July 16 and 17, starting with the attempted theft of a 1994 Ford Laser in Terang's Thomson Street.
He alleged Mr Griffiths, with the help of an unknown co-accused, used a pair of scissors to attempt to start the car.
"Damage was caused by the metal implement which was shoved into the ignition," Detective Senior Constable Hughes said.
"The vehicle can't be driven, causing great inconvenience to the victim."
The detective said a maroon 2010 Ford Territory was then allegedly stolen from Cobham Street.
He said the vehicle was fitted with a number of child car seats as the victim provided daycare services.
He said the victim was asleep in bed at the time of the theft but was not disturbed.
The court heard the Territory was found abandoned the following morning outside a residential premises in Allansford's Zieglar Parade.
Detective Senior Constable Hughes alleged the offenders then attempted to steal a car from a property on Zieglar Parade before breaking into two other cars at the same residence.
He said wires were cut in an attempt to start an unlocked utility.
Two vehicles were allegedly broken into but nothing was stolen.
Detective Senior Constable Hughes said Mr Griffiths then went to an address in Clarke Street, broke into a car, located a remote control to the garage and gained entry.
He said the offenders smashed the windows of two cars, causing $500 damage, and tried to steal a Toyota Hilux utility but the battery was flat.
The court heard the offenders then attended Allansford's Frank Street and allegedly stole a 1996 Holden Commodore station wagon.
Detective Senior Constable Hughes said the victim was asleep at the time of the break-in, which caused "a great deal of trauma and inconvenience".
Detective Senior Constable Hughes said uniform police patrolling Terang-Mortlake Road in Terang came across the stolen Commodore by chance at 10.50pm Saturday.
Three males allegedly fled on foot.
The court heard Mr Griffiths was identified and later arrested near Noorat.
Detective Senior Constable Hughes said Mr Griffiths had not long been released from Port Phillip Prison after serving an 18-month sentence for charges of theft of a motor vehicle, criminal damage by fire, aggravated burglary and theft from shop.
He said the man had 18 pages of criminal history involving over 100 individual charges.
Lawyer Jess Dean said although the man's history was "not good", the prosecution was "fairly weak".
She said "significant" further investigations needed to take place before Mr Griffiths could be placed at four of the alleged crime scenes.
Magistrate Mark Stratmann said if the matters were proven, Mr Griffiths would face a "significant length of imprisonment as a likely outcome".
But, he agreed further investigations needed to be done and said he had concerns about the case being delayed.
He released Mr Griffith on bail and ordered him to attend court again on February 22.
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