 Snatch and grab close to a million dollar in stone
If Damien Richard Gee had been able to continue his five-month crime spree for just a little longer he would have become a million dollar man.
Gee specialized in smashing into building supply yards, stealing trucks and loading trailers with expensive equipment such as marble and granite tiles, the District Court was told yesterday.
He stole property worth a total of $893,553 and sold what he could as quickly as possible.
When he was finally caught in April, property worth $706,900 was recovered and returned to its owners.
Gee pleaded guilty to 22 charges of stealing, four charges of burglary and six charges of unlawful damage.
The offences occurred between November last year and April. “You went on what can only be described as an astonishing crime spree � stealing substantial quantities of building material,� Judge Michael Muller told Gee.
“The financial losses were immense. The range of items stolen � and the audacity � are nothing short of remarkable.�
Gee hit building yards and engineering premises � sometimes going back two or three times. After he was sacked from a stone and tile business in Malaga, he broke in and stole property on three occasions.
He cut chains and padlocks, smashed down perimeter fences and gates � and drove off in trucks loaded with stolen property including marble tiles worth $26,000, a trailer loaded with motorcycles and jet skis and tools worth $14,000, and granite ornaments worth $20,000.
Judge Muller said he rejected Gee’s attempts to play down his involvement by claiming that much of the stolen property was recovered and the various businesses would have been covered by insurance.
Stating that only an immediate sentence of imprisonment was appropriate, Judge Muller imposed a total jail term of 3 1 /2 years. This was backdated to April when Gee was arrested and he was made eligible for parole.
:nono: | 
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