Mother accused of crime spree

A GEELONG office worker was spooked when an unwelcome intruder broke in after hours during an attempt to steal money, a court has heard.

Corio woman Angela Jones is accused of committing the aggravated burglary at the McHenry Partners office building on Yarra St earlier this year.

The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard that a person was working inside the office when they heard a noise shortly after 9pm on June 3.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Mick Graham said the worker walked to a reception area where they noticed a petty cash tin on the ground.

While the worker did not see the alleged offender, Sgt Graham told the court CCTV footage “clearly” depicted Ms Jones committing the burglary.

Ms Jones, 26, was granted bail yesterday despite police fears that she was a flight risk.

The mother of three had been in custody for two months over the aggravated burglary, as well as two thefts that occurred in July this year.

Sgt Graham said the alleged thefts occurred while Ms Jones was staying at a property in Whittington.

On July 13, a woman in the same suburb woke to find her bank card missing, with the card later used for a $104 transaction at a Breakwater service station.

The bank card was allegedly found on Ms Jones that afternoon when police were alerted to cash being stolen from a Ryrie St business.

The court heard Ms Jones was tracked to the Jokers On Ryrie pub after allegedly swiping $300 from a till at a nearby dry cleaning business.

Sgt Graham said the accused thief was nabbed in a pub toilet while in possession of a screwdriver, $244 cash and a further $102 in US currency.

Following her arrest, Ms Jones was remanded in custody on a string of outstanding warrants that were issued in May this year.

Opposing her bid for bail, Sgt Graham said police held concerns Ms Jones could flee the state given her family ties outside Victoria.

But defence lawyer Jacob Mildren argued there were conditions that could be put in place to bring any risks of bail to an acceptable level. He said it was Ms Jones’ first stint in adult custody and claimed the aggravated burglary allegation was “not the most serious version” of that charge.

Mr Mildren told the court his client had been addicted to heroin since she was 14 and that her alleged offending was aimed at getting money to buy drugs.

Magistrate Mark Stratmann granted bail with conditions including a night-time curfew, regular reporting to police and a ban on leaving the state.

Ms Jones will return to court on October 21.