Fingerprints link man to a series of car thefts across Ballarat

Bryce Stephens, 21, handed himself into police on October 20 after he saw himself on television as a wanted person on a number of warrants.

Stephens was involved in car thefts, burglaries and theft from cars in Armstrong Street North, Mill Street, Canadian Lakes Boulevard and the Ballarat Railway Station.

The Wendouree man pleaded guilty to the offences from the Ballarat Magistrates Court dock on Tuesday, at times biting his fingernails and crying. 

The court was told Stephens and a co-accused entered an unlocked garage door at a Mill Street property between August 13 and 14.

They took cash from a station wagon, then accessed the house while the victim slept. They were inside the house for several minutes before a dog barked, causing the pair to flee.

Stephens was arrested on August 17 and charged over the crimes he made full admissions to.

But a month later on October 12 while Stephens was on bail, he attended a Canadian Lakes Boulevard property where he found a garage door remote inside a car.

He then gained access inside the garage and took $16 cash from a vehicle while the victim slept inside the house.

On another occasion, Stephens’ fingerprints were found inside a Nissan vehicle that had been stolen from the Ballarat Railway Station and found at the Zagames car park.

Also in October, CCTV footage showed Stephens in the passenger seat of a stolen car at the Doveton Street service station.

Defence lawyer Lachlan Carter said his client, who has an intellectual disability, was remorseful for his crimes.

“He is still young and rehabilitation should be given important consideration in this case,” Mr Carter said.

He urged the court to consider a community corrections order with a justice plan. Magistrate Ronald Saines ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned the hearing to December 21. Stephens was remanded in custody.