A CAMPERDOWN man allegedly involved in a Corangamite district burglary ring has been remanded in custody until mid-January so shoeprints and other forensic impressions can be examined.
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Andrew Steiner, 32, previously of Russell Street, Camperdown, has been charged with 13 offences and appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court this week for a contested mention hearing.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Sandra Skilton said Warrnambool district police detectives recently launched an operation targeting commercial and residential property burglaries committed in the previous five months.
Police executed a search warrant at an address on Kruger Street in Warrnambool on July 19 when Mr Steiner was alone on the front porch of a home.
Officers found a bolt-action rifle, found to have been stolen on July 2 in Terang, wrapped in a bed sheet.
Mr Steiner is a prohibited person to possess a firearm and police allege the rifle was stored incorrectly.
Police allege Mr Steiner went to the address to sell the firearm to an associate.
The next day police executed a search warrant on the car of Mr Steiner’s mistress on Church Street, Timboon, in which they found and seized a number of items.
A search of the woman’s home also uncovered other items including tools and hairdressing latex gloves.
An angle grinder that was found is alleged to have been stolen in a burglary on a Terang business overnight on June 19.
The gloves are alleged to have been stolen in a burglary at a Timboon hairdressing business overnight on July 18.
Tools were used to gain entry into the salon and police are undertaking forensic tests to determine if it can be proved the tools were used.
Police also alleged that Mr Steiner attended a business on July 21 but left without anything happening.
He is alleged to have been seen by a neighbour and distinctive shoeprints were left near the business.
Those shoeprints are also undergoing forensic examination.
Defence counsel Amanda Chambers said the prosecution case was purely circumstantial and her client denied all charges.
Magistrate Ron Saines said it was inappropriate to book the case in for a contested hearing until the forensic tests were completed.
He said it may be possible that if the defence made concessions in relation to the firearm charges that other matters could be resolved.
Mr Saines directed that if possible the forensic tests on the shoeprints and tools be completed before January 17 when a further hearing has been scheduled.
If the case is contested it will likely be heard in March or April next year.
Mr Steiner remains in custody and there was no application for bail.
