William Graham allegedly removed an aluminium window from an house under construction before taking items that were later discovered in a house the accused was staying at, a court has heard. 

Police informant Detective Senior Constable Luke Aggett told Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday Graham “made a serious attempt to flee police” after a search at the Sebastopol house he was staying at.

Detective Senior Constable Aggett said a 20cm kitchen carving knife was found under the accused’s bed. Refusing arrest, Graham attempted to run through the house before being taken to the ground by police.

He said once Graham was arrested he pointed out items, including an air conditioning unit and welder, which he initially told police belonged to another person in the house, before changing his story to say he had bought them off a friend.

Detective Senior Constable Aggett told the court a further search of the house recovered items including three drills, a toilet roll holder, soap holder and paint.

The court heard Graham allegedly broke into a house under construction in Sebastopol between July 4-6 and removed $1600 worth of goods, including a cook top, stove and dishwasher, which have not been recovered.

Between July 3-14 Graham allegedly broke into a house under construction in Delecombe, with finger prints discovered at a window.

The court heard Graham allegedly broke into another property on two occasions, removing $360 worth of items on one occasion and $1000 worth on the second, some of which were found inside the garage he was sleeping in.

Opposing Graham’s bail, Detective Senior Constable Aggett told the court Graham was at an “unacceptable risk” of committing further offences.

Representing himself, Graham told the court he “met a bloke two to three weeks ago” and began collecting “bits and pieces left over from off-cuts”, but “had no idea” about some of the alleged burglaries.

“They’ve been busted and put the blame on me” he told the court. He also said the knife was used to eat an apple and was “the only one” he could find.

Magistrate Catherine Lamble refused Graham bail and remanded him to appear in court on August 10.