Police have arrested an 18-year-old for ram-raiding the Telstra Shop.
POLICE have arrested and charged a Ballarat teenager over a burglary at the Telstra Shop last weekend, which allegedly set the business back more than $20,000 from damages and loss of goods.
An 18-year-old man was released on bail from Ballarat Police Station yesterday, and was charged with burglary, criminal damage, theft of a motor vehicle and eight counts of theft.
He is due to appear in Ballarat Magistrates Court on November 21.
Detective Senior Constable Barry Hills said police were able to catch the man after receiving several pieces of information from the public.
“The use of CCTV footage and public assistance in relation to this incident and numerous other incidents is invaluable,” he said. “We certainly appreciate the help and the telephone calls we received.”
Police have recovered two mobile phones believed to have been taken during the break-in.
Detective Hills said the alleged burglary occurred just after midnight on October 17 after a vehicle, valued at $3500, was stolen from Ballarat Toyota.
He said the vehicle was driven to the Bridge Mall where two males were seen wandering around. The men then allegedly reversed the vehicle three or four times into a roller door at the back of the Telstra Shop, causing about $15,000 worth of damage.
Both men then allegedly entered the business, stealing between eight and 10 mobile phones valued at up to $10,000.
The vehicle was later found dumped outside Sam’s Warehouse on the corner of Peel and Little Bridge streets.
Detective Hills said police were continuing to conduct inquiries relating to the second offender.
Meanwhile police are still hunting two men who used a white Ford Courier dual cab ute to ram the entrance to VicRoads at midnight last Monday.
The men broke into the building but fled empty handed.
Police say both men were wearing hooded jumpers, one white and one red, and were in their late teens or early 20s. Anyone with information on either crime can call the Ballarat Criminal Investigation Unit on 5336 6080 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
evan.schuurman@thecourier.com.au
