$17,000 inside job

Teenage mates face court over cash heist

A TEENAGER has pleaded guilty to acting as a lookout while his mates burgled $17,000 cash from the Toowoomba business at which one of them worked.

It proved to be a memorable 17th birthday for the high school student, who together with his mates, was caught red-handed on the same day of the heist.

A HALF-BAKED plan to pull a $17,000 heist on a Toowoomba caravan manufacturer has landed four teenage mates in serious trouble.

Brothers Dominik Kohler, 19 and Camille Kohler, 17, as well as Taivan Archimedes Clifford, 17, had their matters heard in Toowoomba Magistrates Court yesterday.

Prosecutor Greg McIntyre detailed an inside job alleged to have to been conceived after Adventure RV employee Dominik came across $17,000 cash in an office drawer on October 28.

It wasn’t until the owner and his wife were at home later that evening that they realised the money from a sale that day had not been banked.

The owner returned the next morning to find the office ransacked and the cash missing. The rear wall of the shed was observed to have been cut, leaving a hole in the wall, Mr McIntyre said.

“The hole was cut in the very small area that was not covered with shelving or machinery.”

He said it appeared as though the offenders had intimate knowledge of the building.

Meanwhile, police had stopped Camille Kohler, Clifford and their 16-year-old co-accused in a car shortly after 3.30am on October 29 in North Toowoomba.

Police found $1000 cash on Camille Kohler and a further $1900 in the car but, as no offences had been reported, the street check was noted and the teens let go.

It was after the theft was reported that police were notified Dominik and Camille Kohler had called in sick from their respective places of work that day.

Officers raided a Crows Nest home later that day to find the four teens in a back shed.

They searched the shed to find a bong and a bowl of cannabis.

The teens were searched and Camille Kohler was alleged to have $4100 rolled up inside his shoe.

Clifford was found to have had $500 in his wallet and a search of the juvenile’s bedroom had located more than $2100.

After being charged, police took Dominik to his Crows Nest home where he guided them to a creek bank at the rear of the property.

A glasses case containing $6700 was recovered from under some rocks and sticks.

Clifford, who turned 17 on the day of the heist, pleaded guilty to entering a premises and committing an indictable offence, possession of dangerous drugs and possession of a utensil.

His defence solicitor Phil Stainton said if the offence had occurred before midnight, his client would have been treated as a juvenile.

Mr Stainton said that Clifford was a Year 11 student who wanted to complete Year 12.

“My client’s role is very limited in that he has gone with the group and acted as a lookout,” Mr Stainton said.

Magistrate Damian Carroll said he suspected Clifford had succumbed to peer pressure.

“In the circumstances, I won’t record a conviction. “I will give you a chance.” He placed Clifford on a 12-month probation order with a requirement he complete urine testing when required. He was ordered to pay $1055 restitution.

The Kohlers had their cases adjourned until January 15.

The fourth accused is being dealt with through the juvenile justice system.