Woman linked to 11 stolen cars through alleged 'prolific' offending

Shannon Lee Jeffrey has remained in custody since and made an application for bail at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Police informant Detective Senior Constable Luke Aggett said Jeffrey was a prolific offender and a significant flight risk as she was 'at large' across a number of Victorian locations for months.

Jeffrey is facing a total of 44 charges for offending allegedly committed from May to October 2020.

She was first released on bail in June 2020 after she was allegedly seen driving a stolen car and swerving across the road to evade police.

One day later police followed a stolen car Jeffrey was allegedly a passenger in from Bacchus Marsh to Taylors Lakes.

Detective Senior Constable Aggett said Jeffrey got out of the car in Taylors Lakes and the two males kept driving and police later found a loaded rifle in the car.

The court heard police executed a search warrant where Jeffrey was living and found five rounds of ammunition, including four that could have been used in the firearm seized from the car.

Jeffrey was arrested and bailed but came to police attention again two months later when she was allegedly caught driving a stolen car, but provided a false name to police and fled.

The court heard Jeffrey was linked to a car stolen from Anakie in September that was later located in Raglan.

Detective Senior Constable Aggett said police found a receipt in the car from a Stockland Wendouree store and CCTV showed Jeffrey there at the time of the purchase.

Jeffrey is linked to a $50,000 car stolen from Ascot that had a wallet and bank cards inside. Petrol station CCTV allegedly showed her driving the car and using the stolen card to buy cigarettes.

The court heard Jeffrey was a disqualified driver at the time of all alleged driving incidents.

Jeffrey is charged with a petrol drive off in August, stealing a circular saw from Bunnings and being picked up in a stolen car.

Detective Senior Constable Aggett said Jeffrey was seen as a passenger in a car in Bendigo that was stolen from Avoca two days earlier.

Police allege Jeffrey stole a phone from Good Guys in Bendigo and was picked up in a stolen car and later stole two phones from Officeworks.

Detective Senior Constable Aggett said Jeffrey was linked to another car stolen during an aggravated burglary in Mount Helen in September.

The court heard she was allegedly captured on CCTV driving the car and filling it with fuel and her DNA was found in the car when it was recovered.

The court heard Jeffrey is accused of stealing $500 worth of cookwear from a Wangaratta store on October 9, the day she was later arrested camping next to a stolen car in a bush area in Eldorado.

Police allege she was in possession of a large backpack with ammunition for high powered rifles.

Defence lawyer Maddie Carroll said Jeffrey had an opportunity to be bailed to a residential drug rehabilitation facility in Shepparton.

The court heard it would be a 16-week intensive drug program followed by a placement in transitional housing with support.

Ms Carroll said it was a comprehensive program with stable accommodation, supervision and treatment.

She said there were potential delays in the case which could lead to a long time on remand.

"There is a lack of an unacceptable risk here," Ms Carroll said.

"What is proposed can involve strict conditions.

"The offending is linked to Ms Jeffrey's drug addiction."

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