A man who was involved in a series of attempted ATM thefts across western and central Victoria has been released from prison.
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Robert Fitzpatrick, 40, was sentenced to 700 days time already served at the County Court of Victoria on Tuesday for three charges of burglary and attempted theft and two charges of attempted burglary.
Fitzpatrick, with co-accused Grant Nalder and Martin Locandro, targeted ATMs in Creswick, Skipton, Maldon, Ballan and Clunes between December 2018 and March 2019.
They broke into a book shop in Creswick on December 14, 2018 and set off an alarm before gaining access to the ATM.
The next day they drilled out the front door lock of the Skipton Op Shop and attempted to gain access to the ATM using an angle grinder, triggering a security alarm.
On December 16, 2018 the offenders attempted to access the Maldon Bendigo Bank ATM by cutting into the mortar in the brick wall.
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They failed to gain access to the ATM at the Ballan Bendigo Bank on January 26, 2019 after using an angle grinder to make cuts in the concrete tilt slab wall of the bank. On March 2, 2019 the offenders stole a front-end loader from the Creswick Quartz quarry and drove it to Clunes where they attempted to pull the ATM from the Clunes Newsagency using the front-end loader's bucket.
The shop front was smashed and the heritage-listed facade was substantially damaged. The total insurance claim for the rebuilding works and loss of income was over $200,000.
The offenders were arrested on March 5.
Fitzpatrick's defence barrister told the court he had the support of his elderly mother and father who suffered ill health.
Defence submissions reveal Fitzpatrick had an employment opportunity upon his release and suffered his own health issues.
The court heard Fitzpatrick began using methamphetamine in 2019 around the time of the offending, but had been drug free in custody. A defence barrister said Fitzpatrick faced fewer charges than his co-offenders and was not involved in other incidents where significant amounts of money were stolen.
Judge John Smallwood said the burglaries were significant to the rural communities targeted.
"The burglaries were of a sophisticated nature using power tools," he said.
"It was concerted and planned offending. The Clunes Newsagency suffered extensive damage to a heritage-listed building. It caused damage to the community and stress and anxiety."
Judge Smallwood said he imposed a sentence in line with what co-offender Locandro had received for the same charges.
"The major matter here is parity," he said.
"Your prospects of rehabilitation should be good. If you don't use drugs again and decide not to be a crook, your risk of reoffending should be relatively low."
Fitzpatrick was sentenced to 700 days imprisonment time already served.
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