A SINGLE thumb print on a doorway could be enough to pin a $10,000 car part burglary in Korong Vale to a car enthusiast, a court has heard.
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The culprit stole a large amount of car parts – many of which were specific to Holden Kingswoods – during the burglary between January 9 and 12.
A man in his 40s appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with the burglary, which he continues to claim he did not commit.
Prosecutor Sergeant Mark Snell said the burglar removed a rear fly screen and grabbed headlights, mouldings, hub caps, radiators and other car parts from throughout the house and yard on Allen Street, Korong Vale.
The total value of the parts was more than $10,000.
Police were called to the property on January 12, and found a distinct thumb print on a bedroom door frame.
The thumb print belonged to the accused, the court was told. The occupants of the home, who know the accused and sell car parts to each other, said the man has not been inside their house before.
Police were also able to trace the man’s mobile phone and found it was using data from the Inglewood, and then Darby phone towers at 1.56am on January 12.
Sergeant Snell said the evidence was consistent with someone who had traveled to Korong Vale on the night.
In his interview with police, the man claimed he was in Bendigo during the time of the burglary – a story he maintained in court on Tuesday.
He also claimed he had attended a barbecue at the property, which could explain the thumb print, but the house occupants disputed the claim.
An alibi witness will be called during a contest mention hearing, as the man wishes to continue to fight the charges.
Magistrate Patrick Southey was skeptical about the man’s chances of success.
“Has there ever been a credible alibi witness?” he said.
“If he got him down to the police station straight away on the day he was charged, this would have all vanished months ago.”
He will reappear in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court at a later date.