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POLICE have arrested a Bathurst man in relation to a string of break and enters across the city in January and February.
Michael David Piper, 20, of Bannerman Crescent, made a brief appearance before magistrate Michael Allen yesterday in Bathurst Local Court.
He was arrested by police on Monday evening.
Acting Superintendent Luke Rankin yesterday said investigations were continuing and it was possible further charges could be laid.
“Police are continuing to look at possible links between a spate of [alleged] break and enters at businesses in both the CBD and Kelso,” he said.
Piper, who was refused bail, was charged with a string of offences including aggravated break and enter (commit a serious indictable offence), two counts of larceny (less than $2000), robbery armed with a weapon and break, enter and steal (value less than $60,000).
Among the charges against Piper are a break, enter and steal at the Governor Macquarie Motor Inn and armed robbery at Rydges Mount Panorama.
Police allege at 3.10am on February 2, Piper robbed a man of $500, the property of the Rydges Hotel, while armed with a torque wrench.
Police will further allege in the early hours of February 4, Piper broke into the reception area of the Governor Macquarie Motor Inn in Charlotte Street and stole $3000 from a cash register while the manager was upstairs.
Other charges against Piper included the theft of a $2000 Yukon Giant bicycle between February 4 and 5, and the theft of a piece of cake, a sandwich and a drink, valued at $10 from the Bathurst Golf Club on January 25, and the theft of a red farrier hat, towel and air pump, valued at $200 on February 5.
No pleas were entered, and bail was not applied for. Mr Allen adjourned the matter for replies to March 21, and listed the matter with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Piper also pleaded not guilty to two further charges of goods in custody suspected of being stolen, including a set of car keys and poker machine keys, and resisting an officer in the execution of duty.
These matters were also adjourned until March 21 for replies, with Piper to appear by audio-visual link.