Theft rap in a happy snap

Police nab teen after seeing selfies with stolen Merc

A SELFIE-LOVING crook was nabbed for stealing a car after posing for photos next to the vehicle.

In March this year, Bailey Young was involved in the theft of a Mercedes-Benz from a home in Rippleside.

Over the following days, the 19-year-old posed for numerous selfies with the car alongside a friend.

But when that friend was arrested and they searched his phone, police had little trouble linking the theft to Young.

The teenager yesterday pleaded guilty to a swag of charges including car theft, burglary and recklessly causing injury.

The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard his offending earlier this year ranged from assaulting a woman to stealing a television from his old school in Corio.

Prosecutor Senior Con- stable Jo Allen told the court Young’s crimes started on February 23, when he became embroiled in an argument with a woman known to him.

She said Young threw a phone which hit the woman, causing a cut to the back of her head.

The pair then wrestled, with Young grabbing a knife and holding it in the vicinity of the woman. Later, she tried to flee the unit, but was chased down.

The woman was eventually able to alert authorities four hours later when Young left the home to buy cigarettes.

He was arrested later that night, but continued his run of crimes a month later with the theft of the Mercedes-Benz.

In his final act before being taken into custody, Young and two others broke into Northern Bay College early on Anzac Day, while thousands around the region were at- tending dawn services.

While inside, Young stole food from a staffroom, before police arrived and found him carrying a television through a field.

The trio fled and Young was eventually arrested hiding in flower beds of a nearby home.

The court heard he had already spent 79 days in custody, but Magistrate Peter Mellas said more jail time should be expected.

Mr Mellas said the assault on the woman was particularly concerning.

“He’s effectively kept her hostage. He’s lucky he’s not on more serious charges,” he said.

“And then there’s the school, which is in a deprived area of Geelong.

“Every resource they’ve got — they have to scrape for it. And he comes in and just takes stuff.”

Young will be assessed for a community corrections order before being sentenced next month.