A man accused of smashing Canberrans' car windows and stealing valuables was intercepted by people trying to track their stolen Apple iPad, court documents say.
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Rodney John McGrory, 28, was refused bail on Monday.
The alleged thieves' car ended up crashing into a wall, and two men were arrested. Rodney John McGrory, 28, appeared before court on Monday and was refused bail.
He faces 16 criminal charges including aggravated burglary, theft, damaging property, and breaching a good behaviour order.
The ACT Magistrates Court heard Mr McGrory had been released from prison about two weeks before he allegedly went into two car parks, smashed windows, and stole people's belongings.
On both occasions, he was allegedly captured in CCTV footage. Police said they later showed him stills of the footage and he identified himself.
On Monday, Mr McGrory asked to enter pleas to the charges and "take responsibility for his actions". Magistrate Bernadette Boss advised against it until he had sought legal advice.
Police said, in documents tendered to the court, that Mr McGrory, along with his co-accused, 24-year-old Kieran William Elphick, allegedly went into a Crace unit complex's underground car park about 11.50pm on December 19.
Police said the pair broke into three cars at the complex and stole an Apple iPod, sunglasses and tools. They also allegedly stole NSW registration plates from another car.
Mr McGrory told police in an interview he wanted to stay near the door of the car park because he had been "shitting himself", the police documents said.
About 2.50am, Mr McGrory and Mr Elphick allegedly entered a hotel car park on Northbourne Avenue and broke into another four cars, the documents said. They allegedly stole a laptop, a wallet, and a backpack.
A few days later, on December 22, three people in two separate cars were trying to track an Apple iPad when they allegedly spotted Mr McGrory and Mr Elphick in a Holden Commodore. The iPad they were tracking had been stolen in an unrelated incident.
The car Mr McGrory and Mr Elphick were allegedly driving "took off", and one of the three people attempted to pull in front of it, the documents said.
The Commodore swerved, hit the car driven by another of the three people, and ended up lodged in a retaining wall, the documents said. Police were called and "immediately recognised" Mr McGrory as the person from the CCTV, police said.
He was arrested and taken to Woden Police Station. The Commodore was identified as stolen.
Mr McGrory was listed to appear in court again on January 9.
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