A PORTLAND man who allegedly broke into agricultural stores in three towns and stole sheep and cattle drench worth over $95,000 – including the alleged theft of $38,851 from Elders Hamilton and $29,900 from Hamilton Produce – has been denied bail.  

Simon Carr, 38, appeared at the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he made an unsuccessful self-represented bail application.

He is facing charges of burglary, theft, and committing indictable offences while on bail.

The court heard that on April 11, 2022, Mr Carr allegedly went to AG Warehouse Koroit where he cut a hole in the cyclone wire fencing, before cutting a hole in the shed and stealing Cydectin sheep drench.

Warrnambool Crime Investigation Unit detective senior constable, Joe Fisher, said blood was found at the entry point of the shed, with forensics from April 12 confirming it was a direct match for Mr Carr.

The court heard phone records accessed by police confirmed Mr Carr travelled from Portland to Koroit, arriving at 2.11am shortly before the burglary at AG Warehouse was captured on CCTV footage.

In a separate matter on May 2, 2022, it was alleged Mr Carr broke into Gorst Rural in Derrinallum by cutting a hole in the cyclone fencing and accessed an unlocked storage shed, where he then stole $12,000 of Tridectin and Cydectin drench.

Det Sen Const Fisher said phone records collected by police placed Mr Carr in the area at 2.20am on the morning of the offending.

In another incident between May 27-30, 2022, Mr Carr allegedly attended Hamilton Produce where he cut a hole in the cyclone fencing and gained access to the storage shed by cutting the lock, where he then stole $29,900.

He is then alleged to have gone back to Hamilton between June 19-20, 2022 to steal $38,851 worth of drench products from Elders Hamilton.

The court heard phone records showed Mr Carr travelled from Portland to Hamilton just before each local burglary.

Det Sen Const Fisher said a total of $95,000 worth of products were stolen and none had been recovered as Mr Carr refused to cooperate with police.

He said Mr Carr’s employment as a plumber provided him with access to the tools required to cut holes in sheds and fencing.

The court heard police identified Mr Carr through the eBay account selling the drench products which had a username of Simon Carr spelt backwards.

Police prosecutor, Carolyn Howe, said Mr Carr needed to meet the exceptional circumstances test to be granted bail, but police believed he was an unacceptable risk of reoffending.

Mr Carr told the court while police had his blood at the scene of the crime, they could not prove he was there.

Magistrate John Bentley said Mr Carr had “thrown links” that he was at the scene of the offending and had used an account with his name spelt backwards to sell the products he stole.

“You’re not exactly a master criminal,” he said.

“They’ve got your blood at the scene.”

Mr Bentley said Mr Carr had breached a Community Corrections Order which was serious and there was “a strong case” against him.

Mr Bentley refused Mr Carr’s bail application and adjourned the matter to August 1.