The family known as the “T-shirt gang” has been busted admitting to a series of alleged Wodonga burglaries on a police listening device.
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Offenders wearing T-shirts to cover their faces allegedly robbed homes and small businesses, including Rutherglen’s Shell Service Station and Baranduda General Store, during 2015.
Alleged ringleader Jack McLean, 23, and brother Tom McLean, 21, have been in custody since November on more than 80 charges after police warned they were a risk of retrieving 17 guns stolen during the burglaries.
They appeared in Wodonga Magistrates’ Court to contest the charges at a committal hearing on Wednesday, with co-offenders mum Louise McLellan, 45, and Jack’s girlfriend Mikala Garner, 19.
For a moment before the case started, Jack was a father greeting his seven-month-old daughter, who he had been banned from seeing.
The brothers had switched T-shirts for court attire - Jack in a black suit with a pink shirt and Tom in a grey suit with a black shirt.
Wodonga Detective Senior Constable Ray Causer told the court a listening device planted in the McLeans’ Stott Court home captured the accused talking about the case after it appeared on the evening television news.
“They have received Facebook messages and actually searched to find the story,” he said.
“In essence, they are identifying themselves as the offenders referred to by the media as the T-shirt gang.”
The pattern of burglaries started with the theft of guns from Black Street in March.
Wodonga man Brian Edwards told the court he saw the gang in a Ford vehicle after the alleged burglary.
“The blokes came out, loaded the boot up and drove off,” he said.
Detective Causer would not reveal how many listening devices were planted in the family's Wodonga home.
Wangaratta Sergeant Peter McGuffie gave evidence he found a fluorescent top in a draw at the house of the McLeans’ father similar to tops has been seen in CCTV footage of shop burglaries.
Garner’s case was left in limbo because two key police witness, who allegedly identified Garner driving a car during burglaries, were not available.
Barrister Phil Skehan said his client did not accept their statements.
One of the officers was tracked down and expected to give evidence on Thursday.
Jack’s solicitor David Langton maintained the 23-year-old’s innocence and said he should be free from custody.
“At the end of the evidence, my client Jack McLean will be making an application for bail and I understand Tom McLean will be making a similar application,” he said.
The hearing continues.