Brass thief admits he stole the metal from park benches

Jai Liam Glover, 41, leaves court on bail after his sentencing proceedings were adjourned on Thursday. Photo: Albert McKnight.

A thief has admitted stealing brass from Canberra park benches in a late-night raid that has reportedly cost the Territory a significant amount.

Court documents say Kambah’s Jai Liam Glover, now aged 41, went to Henry Rolland Park on Barrine Drive in Acton at about 9 pm on 26 September 2020.

Located along the edge of Lake Burley Griffin, this park has several timber benches with brass fittings.

Glover was seen sitting on each of the benches along the lake’s edge. Police suspect he was removing the anti-theft screws on them so he could take the fittings.

He later pulled the brass handrails off these benches and put them into a backpack before leaving. He later returned to collect more brass. The whole operation took several hours.

The theft was discovered by a maintenance crew a couple of days later and police discovered the crime was captured on closed-circuit television footage.

Police tracked Glover down as a vehicle in the footage was registered to him and they spoke to him the following month.

“Police immediately identified the defendant as the male captured on the CCTV footage,” according to court documents.

Legal Aid’s Mr Rutzou, representing Glover in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday (13 January) when he was scheduled to be sentenced, said a hearing had begun against his client before entering his pleas.

He said Glover had been found suitable for an intensive corrections order and had been forthcoming about how he was a sporadic user of methamphetamine.

While he had used substances in the last six months, Mr Rutzou said he now seemed to be on the right track.

Prosecutor Lauren Knobel said the theft of the brass involved planning as he likely used a tool to remove anti-theft screws and it had resulted in a significant cost to the ACT Government. She said he spent time in custody over his charges.

Glover has pleaded guilty to a charge of theft as well as driving while disqualified.

Magistrate James Stewart said he should be sentenced by the magistrate who presided over the hearing, Magistrate James Lawton. Magistrate Stewart the adjourned case to 16 February and continued bail.