THREE men accused of stealing firearms and cars from properties around central Victoria have fronted court for a committal hearing.
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Kevin Edward Grose, 27, Joshua Luke Gahan, 30, and Jackson Paul Hilson, 29, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday after they were charged with offences including theft of a firearm.
Charge sheets released to the Bendigo Advertiser alleged Mr Gahan stole four firearms and a Kawasaki dirt bike from a Strathdale address sometime between November 6 and November 7 last year.
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Police also alleged that Mr Hilson and Mr Grose stole firearms, ammunition, a Nissan Navara Ute, a Ford Ranger ute, and tools valued at $10,000 from a Charlton property on November 18.
A third property in Wychitella, west of Charlton, was also burgled on November 29. Police alleged Mr Gahan and Mr Grose stole items including a solar panel, high lift jack accessories, and an aluminium portable ramp.
Detective Senior Constable Jamie Stubbins gave evidence to the court on Wednesday.
He told the magistrate that Mr Grose and Mr Gahan were arrested at a Kangaroo Flat property on December 4 last year.
Officers searched the Browning Street address and allegedly found some of the stolen firearms buried in the backyard.
Senior Detective Stubbins said firearm-related items from the Wychitella property were also allegedly located during the search.
He said police were yet to locate the firearms allegedly stolen from the Charlton address.
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But the detective said the Ford ute stolen in Charlton was found at the Browning Street address on December 4, while Mr Hilson was arrested in the second stolen ute on November 20.
Senior Detective Stubbins said police found videos on Mr Grose's phone of the alleged Charlton burglary. He told the court the video footage showed Mr Hilson inside one of the sheds.
The detective also said there was a cigarette butt with Mr Gahan's DNA found at the scene of the Strathdale burglary.
The committal hearing was adjourned to allow for the prosecution and defence lawyers to discuss what charges should remain or be changed.
Magistrate Sharon McRae will decide on that next date whether Mr Grose, Mr Gahan, and Mr Hilson should be committed to stand trial in the County Court.
The three men were remanded in custody and are due to return to the Bendigo Magistrates' Court next month.
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