A man has been charged with stealing more than $72,000 worth of jewellery in a spree targeting shops in Bendigo and Melbourne.
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Nikola Raguz, 43, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court this week via video link.
Documents obtained from the court show Mr Raguz is accused of stealing a men's gold necklace and two gold bracelets, valued at $22,897, from the Michael Hill jewellery store in Bendigo on January 28 this year.
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It is also alleged Mr Raguz drove a vehicle that same day while he was banned from doing so.
He is also accused of stealing number plates that same day.
Mr Raguz is charged with stealing jewellery worth $14,998 from an Airport West jewellers earlier that same month and two trays of gold chains worth $15,773 from a Doncaster East business in December 2019.
The previous month, police allege, he stole a gold bracelet and a gold chain worth almost $11,600 from another Michael Hill store in Forest Hill and a men's gold bracelet valued at $6999 from Michael Hill in Keysborough.
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The total cost of the allegedly stolen jewellery is $72,265.
Mr Raguz has been charged with two other driving while disqualified offences, and handling stolen goods.
At the time of the alleged offences, Mr Raguz was on bail.
He is also facing a charge of exchanging a substance prejudicial to the good order of a police jail, the alleged substance being Suboxone.
Mr Raguz will return to court next month.
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