A WODONGA man involved in the burglary of up to $180,000 worth of goods has been jailed for two years.
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Benjamin Kenedy, 26, of Collins Street in Wodonga, pleaded guilty to the burglary of an Ebden property in August last year.
Magistrate John Murphy sentenced him to a non-parole period of 15 months.
Kennedy’s co-accused Troy Hawkins, 39, of Kelly Street, Wodonga, was sentenced two weeks ago to 18 months' jail with a non-parole period of six months.
The owners of the Murray Valley Highway property had been away when Kennedy and Hawkins broke in the home on August 3 last year and stole electrical goods such as a TV and computers, cheque books, cash, alcohol and jewellery, as well as a new Land Cruiser valued at $120,000.
The court was told Kennedy and Hawkins hired a car from a company in Wodonga, requesting a station wagon as they were moving house.
Two days later they drove to the house in Ebden - which was next to Hawkins’ parents’ home - and entered through the back door, loading the car with goods.
Police estimate the value of the property other than the Land Cruiser was about $60,000, the vast majority of which has not been recovered.
As the pair were leaving, the hire car became bogged and they used the victims’ own ute to help tow them out.
The men were arrested on August 12 - Kennedy initially denied any involvement, saying he’d given the hire car to Hawkins, but later made full admissions.
Full story in tomorrow’s Border Mail.