mmg.com.au

Tocumwal man Tyler James Johnson, 19, has been sentenced to 2 years’ jail in Victoria for a string of burglaries across the state.

The charges against him included one count of aggravated burglary, four counts of burglary, six counts of theft and one attempted burglary.

Police were searching for the former Finley High School student in Tocumwal, Cobram and Deniliquin last week before he was apprehended in Victoria.

His sentence was handed down on Monday in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court. He pleaded guilty to all charges.

Police said Johnson’s crime spree began on December 16, when he and three others attempted to rob a Numurkah car wash.

They were unsuccessful, but later that night they broke into the Numurkah IGA supermarket and stole almost $4500 worth of cigarettes and alcohol.

Police said on December 22, Johnson, again with three co-offenders, broke into the Caltex service station in Strathmerton. They escaped with $2700 worth of cigarettes and mobile phones.

On January 16, police said Johnson and two others broke into the IGA supermarket in Tatura.

The trio forced a cleaner who was inside to help them steal $3000 worth of cigarettes and alcohol. The cleaner was not hurt in the incident.

On January 23, police said the 19 year-old and one co-offender broke into Millers Mowers and Motorcycles in Cobram.

They stole several Honda motorcycles and seven chainsaws, to the value of $17,000.

Police said other crimes included: on February 12, while in Bendigo, Johnson stole another motorcycle from the street, valued at $3500; on February 14, Johnson and one co-offender stole $1000 worth of cigarettes and alcohol from a Stanhope supermarket.

Johnson was later involved in a police pursuit on the motorbike stolen from Bendigo. He was eventually arrested.

There are still outstanding NSW warrants out for Johnson. Last week police used local media to appeal for public help to find the wanted former Tocumwal teenager. Police said the NSW matters cannot proceed until the Victorian authorities are finished.