Copper thief’s $145,000 bill

$145,000 repair bill

A MAN who broke into a Wagner company work yard and stole copper wire and stripping and entered a number of vehicles and machinery had left a loss and damage bill of $145,000.

Not content with the booty from that crime, he tried to repeat his modus operandi at an Oakey business a few weeks later only to be caught red handed.

After spending the last year in jail, he pleaded guilty to the burglaries and was jailed but no compensation was ordered.

A TOOWOOMBA man who broke into a Wagners’ storage yard and stole copper wire and equipment leaving a $145,000 loss and repair bill has been handed a three year jail term.

However, because Rick Edward Anderson had already served just over one year in pre-sentence custody, he was released forthwith on parole.

Anderson had cut through wire fencing at the yard site on March 29 last year and set about accessing buildings and equipment, Toowoomba District Court heard.

As well as stealing about 1.5 tonne of copper wiring and stripping, the 36-year-old left a trail of “significant damage”, Crown prosecutor Ellen Fletcher told the court.

The cost of loss and repairing the damaged equipment back to working condition was $145,000, she said.

Police investigations pointed to Anderson who had left his mobile phone and tools he had recently acquired at the scene of the crime, Ms Fletcher said.

Anderson was eventually caught “red handed” attempting to break into a GrainCorp building in Oakey weeks later on April 17 and taken into custody.

He pleaded guilty to burglary and attempted burglary.

His barrister Frank Martin said his client had gone on a “drug bender” in 2018 and that drug use was escalating when he committed these offences.

His motivation was “to get copper to sell to get drugs”, he said.

Due to COVID his client’s time in custody had been difficult and he had endured two lockdowns at the prison including having to spend 24 hours a day in his cell for a week and only having visits via video screen.

Anderson had offered to plead guilty to the charges earlier at the Magistrates Court jurisdiction, he said.

Mr Martin said his client upon release intended living in Oakey with his partner, finding work and seeking drug counselling.

Describing his crimes as “really serious offending”, Judge Deborah Richards declared the 369 days Anderson had spent in custody as time served under the sentence and sentenced him to three years in jail but ordered he be released immediately on parole.