Thefts don’t go to script

A MAN broke into a Belmont pharmacy and spent four hours rifling through prescription drugs, including using computers to search for items in the store.

The incident happened just hours after Andrew Cluning, 21, was charged and bailed for attempting to break into two medical centres on Ryrie St the previous night.

The Belmont man was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work after pleading guilty in Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday to multiple counts of burglary.

The offending started at 1.15am on October 25 when Cluning climbed on to the roof of MedicAid Medical Clinic and smashed a window in a bid to gain access to its on-site pharmacy.

He ran away empty-handed but, a short time later, tried to force his way into the Myers Street Family Medical Practice.

Cluning was arrested at the scene and appeared to be drugaffected.

Police charged and bailed him, but Cluning returned to MedicAid the following night, climbing through the window he already broke and stealing two bottles of valium tablets.

Two hours later, his crime spree moved to Eastbrooke Family Clinic in Belmont, where Cluning smashed a window and spent four hours removing assorted items.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Jacki Davis said CCTV footage captured Cluning using a computer inside the clinic to search for specific medications.

He left the clinic about 6am but, not satisfied with his haul, Cluning later approached a pedestrian on High St and convinced them to fill out a fake prescription for him.

But the plan didn’t work when the clinic rejected the prescription and the pedestrian led them to Cluning.

He was arrested a short time later and made full admissions to his crimes, telling police he was trying to gain social acceptance from his peer group.

The court heard Cluning had no prior criminal record.

Defence lawyer Simon O’Halloran said Cluning was addicted to prescription medi- cations and living out of his car at the time of the offending.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie placed Cluning on a 12-month community corrections order, which included treatment for drug abuse and a mental health assessment.

“Hopefully you comply with the community order and turn your life around,” Ms McGarvie said. “The alternative (to that) is not a place where a young-looking man like you wants to go.”