Thief fined in Bendigo Magistrates' Court after using social media sites to steal

Christopher Lowe, 36, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court this week where he pleaded guilty to five charges including theft.

The court heard on September 5, 2019, Lowe contacted a person on Facebook about renting a Honda motorbike.

Lowe met with the man about 8.30pm that day to hire the bike for one day. He also rented a blue children's helmet.

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Lowe agreed to return the bike to the owner at 6.30pm the next day, but he never did.

The Honda bike, valued to be $1998, and helmet have not been recovered.

The court heard on November 26 that year, Lowe contacted another person on Facebook who was selling an Apple iPhone.

Lowe met with the owner at 6.45pm that day near Glenferrie Station in Melbourne.

The man had agreed to a cash sale of $1045 but Lowe convinced the man a bank transfer would be better.

Lowe showed the man his bank details and the owner handed over the phone. Lowe told the man he would send a receipt as confirmation the money had been transferred.

The owner never received the money or a receipt. He contacted Lowe several times between November 2019 and February 2020, before contacting the police.

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Lowe also pleaded guilty to stealing a $300 towbar from a Bendigo centre in December 2018.

Defence lawyer Robert Timms told the court Lowe was arrested for other matters in December 2019 and had been in custody ever since.

Mr Timms said Lowe had an extremely supportive family, including a partner with a young child.

He said Lowe was hoping to relocate interstate when his current prison sentence ended.

Magistrate Megan Aumair said she would take into account the significant time Lowe had already spent in custody.

She convicted and fined Lowe $1200. His driver's licence was also cancelled and he was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Lowe was ordered to pay restitution for the stolen motorbike, towbar, and phone.

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