A LONG Gully man has been denied bail after police caught him allegedly trying to steal about $10,000 worth of laptops, DVD player accessories and a camera from Lockwood Primary School on Wednesday morning.
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Matthew Drew, 24, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday in relation to the burglary at the school at 2.30am.
The court heard Drew broke into the school's office where he found a master key, allowing access to other buildings.
Senior Constable Andrew Steel said Drew ransacked cupboards and drawers and took two DVD remotes valued at $200, before taking a Nikon camera from the school gym.
Police found other items - including a box of nine Acer laptops valued at $10,000 - nearby at the school grounds, allegedly abandoned. They also found a box containing a Hitachi projector.
Police arrived at the scene at 3am where they spotted Drew fleeing near the administration building.
They gave chase and arrested him soon after.
Drew was wearing socks on his hands, acting as gloves.
Drew told police he had consumed the drug ice two days earlier, but was not under the influence at the time of the alleged burglary.
He said he walked the 10 kilometres from his Long Gully residence to the school alone, but police noticed two people in a car nearby, later discovered to be associates of Drew.
The two people told police they had "been out looking at the Hazeldene's chicken farm when their car broke down".
They have not been charged in relation to the incident.
The court heard Drew has suffered from an ice addiction for years. His partner is 21 weeks pregnant and he was keen to "reduce and stop using ice, to be a responsible father", the court heard.
Magistrate Jennifer Tregent denied bail, believing Drew posed an unacceptable risk to the public
He will re-appear in court on May 21.
