Echuca men face court over $700,000 boat heist

Mar 4, 2020

One of the region’s leading figures in waterski racing and a high-profile Echuca identity in the automotive repair/spray painting industry appeared in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with the theft of more than $700 000 worth of wake boats, cars and caravans.

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Brett Spits, who owns and races Arkham Asylum and recently acquired Psycho Clowns 99, and lives in Wharparilla Dve, Echuca, was charged with two counts of theft of boat, two counts of theft of boat trailer, two counts of bringing stolen goods into Victoria, two counts of dealing with proceeds of crime and handling stolen goods.

Lincoln Mifsud, 44, who owns LWM Panels in Bilkey Crt, Echuca, was charged with four counts of handling stolen goods and dealing with proceeds of crime.

In Tuesday's filing hearing, the men, who are on bail, were ordered to appear at the same court for a committal mention on July 28.

The court heard Spits, 37, would be represented by Melbourne lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson.

Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Kim Thomson applied for Spits’ DNA sample to compare to several seized items.

Dressed in a black T-shirt, black pants and black runners, Spits listened to the testimony of Detective Sergeant Marcus Boyd of Cobram Criminal Investigation Unit before agreeing to give a sample.

Det Sgt Boyd said search warrants were executed at Spits’ property at Wharparilla Dve and Mifsud's Bilkey Crt home and leased storage shed in Matong Rd in Echuca on Friday morning.

Police found a Malibu Wakesetter stolen from Bundalong in Bilkey Crt and another three similar boats, one owned by Supercar champion Mark Winterbottom, at the Matong Rd shed.

“CCTV footage revealed Mifsud and the accused (Spits) arrived at the shed in two stolen vehicles — a Range Rover and Mercedes,” Det Sgt Boyd said.

He said police wanted DNA samples to compare forensically with the boats and anchoring rope found at Matong Rd.

Magistrate Fran Medina granted the DNA procedure, which police did after the court hearing.

The men were arrested on Friday morning following an investigation into a $700 000 heist of boats and vehicles.

“The investigation stems from the Cobram CIU and as our investigation gained momentum, we brought in other police from here and interstate,” Det Sgt Boyd said.

Detectives from Cobram, Wangaratta and Echuca criminal investigation units seized four Malibu boats, two Range Rovers, a Mercedes, Jayco caravan, two boats and an amount of cash and cocaine.

A 29-year-old Echuca woman was issued a caution notice for drug-related offences.

Winterbottom's 2018 Malibu Wakesetter, worth more than $130 000, was stolen from Bundalong between 10 am and 1 pm last Tuesday.

By McPherson Media Group