UPDATE, Thursday, 7.30am:
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A 32-year-old homeless Warrnambool squatter has been arrested for the third time this week after again allegedly breaking his bail conditions.
Tyrone Symonds was arrested at 12.03pm on Wednesday, March 13, by Warrnambool uniform police officers after reports of people causing trouble outside the Coles supermarket in Lava Street.
Mr Symonds was arrested at 12.03pm, charged and bailed to appear in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Friday, March 15.
It's the third time he's been arrested this week.
He was picked up by Warrnambool detectives last Thursday and charged with burglary and theft at SHB Business and Wealth Advisers' office in Henna Street on Wednesday night.
He was bailed on Friday with strict conditions including he not be within 200 metres of the Lava Street Coles supermarket.
Mr Symonds was arrested again on Sunday, charged and bailed for breaching his bail - being within 200m of the supermarket.
That's exactly what's alleged to have happened again on Wednesday and he's been charged with another breach of bail.
On Friday Mr Symonds is listed to appear in court on nine briefs of evidence, seven relating to police and two involving the Office Of Corrections.
Co-accused Anthony Humphreys, 51, was jailed in the Warrnambool court last Friday for a fortnight after pleading guilty to the SHB burglary and theft of computer equipment valued at $2000 as well as theft from other shops.
The men have been among about six squatters living in a dwelling at the rear of the old Salvation Army church in Lava Street, which is scheduled to be demolished in coming months.
The squatters have been causing massive issues for neighbours, police and a nearby sporting academy due to their ongoing anti-social behaviour.
The men have been consuming alcohol outside the Coles supermarket in Lava Street and being abusive and offensive to shoppers.
Police have been frustrated as their move-on powers have been ineffective.
The situation has not been helped by the old Salvation Army property's new owner, who is working out of town and has been unable to assist police to enforce trespass laws.
Police not authorised to comment publicly say the Lava Street dwelling is being used as a drug den.
There's used needles throughout the dwelling and clear evidence those living there have been defecating in the dwelling despite there being a working toilet.
On Monday, 10.45am:
A Lava Street squatter charged with stealing $2000 in computer equipment from a nearby Warrnambool business has been arrested again.
Anthony Humphreys, 51, and Tyrone Symonds, 32, appeared at the Warrnambool Magistrate Court on Friday, March 8.
Humphreys was jailed for a fortnight after pleading guilty to a burglary and theft at SHB Business and Wealth Advisers on Wednesday last week as well as separate thefts from shops.
Mr Symonds was released on bail with strict and extensive conditions, including that he not go within 200 metres of the Lava Street Coles supermarket.
About lunch-time on Sunday he was arrested again, interviewed and charged with breaching his bail conditions after allegedly being within 200m of the supermarket.
He was further released on bail, but the homeless man has not been banned from living at a dwelling behind the old Salvation Army church in Lava Street.
About six homeless people have been living in the disused dwelling.
Mr Symonds will be back in court on Friday this week.
He's currently on bail for six separate police briefs of alleged offending and has no fixed address.
When Humphrys appeared in court on Friday police alleged he and co-accused Mr Symonds went to SHB Business and Wealth Advisers' office in Henna Street soon after 9.30pm last Wednesday.
A window was broken and the premises entered with four computer hard drives, valued at $2000 stolen.
The hard drives were placed in a backpack which was put in a skip bin, but when police later checked the skip had been emptied and the backpack and hard drives could not be located.
Lawyer Xavier Farrelly said Humphrys suffered an acquired brain injury, probably through his use of alcohol.
Humphrys has been in Warrnambool about seven years and has no fixed address, often sleeping and living in a tent.
At the start of the year he was to go into detoxification and rehabilitation but Mr Farrelly said Humphrys got "cold feet" and didn't go.
He said the burglary at the business office happened about 50m from the building where Humphrys was staying.
Magistrate Franz Holzer described Humphrys' offending as mindless and unsophisticated.
He said there were not many sentencing options and protection of the community had to be considered.
Humphrys' custody management issue was noted as potential withdrawal from alcohol.
On Friday, 2pm:
A Lava Street squatter has been jailed after a burglary at a nearby financial institution while another has been granted bail.
Anthony Humphreys, 51, and Tyrone Symonds, 32, appeared at the Warrnambool Magistrate Court on Friday, March 8.
The court was told Humphreys and Symonds attended a Henna Street building at 9.30pm on March 6, 2024, where they were captured on CCTV walking through the carpark and looking through a skip bin.
They walked towards the building where the burglary occurred. Police said a window was smashed and computer equipment stolen.
Humphreys later told police he threw the stolen items behind Macys Bistro but they could not be located.
On March 7 at 2pm, Symonds was allegedly seen on Lava Street at the front of Coles in breach of a court order. A search of him allegedly found four prescription tablets in another person's name.
Humphreys pleaded guilty to the offending and was jailed for 14 days. Symonds successfully applied for bail and was released from custody with conditions.
He's scheduled to reappear at court on March 15.
EARLIER:
Two Warrnambool Lava Street squatters have been arrested and charged after a burglary at a nearby financial institution.
It's alleged the men forced entry to the Henna Street building overnight on Wednesday, March 6, and urinated around the building.
They went through the premises looking for items to steal, but failed to find the small amount of cash that was on the premises.
The burglary was reported to Warrnambool police on Thursday morning which led to inquiries by crime investigation unit detectives.
Those inquiries were greatly assisted by clear security camera footage of the offenders.
The men - a 32-year-old and a 50-year-old - were arrested, interviewed and charged with burglary and theft.
The 32-year-old has been charged with seven offences, including burglary, theft, the theft of a computer from the Gunditjmara office, breaching bail in relation to previous criminal charges and breaching a court order.
The 50-year-old has three charges, including burglary, theft and breaching his bail in relation to previous criminal charges.
They were remanded in custody overnight on Thursday to appear in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Friday for bail/remand hearings.
Both men have long criminal histories and complex mental health and substance abuse issues.
They are among a number of people squatting in a Lava Street dwelling at the rear of the old Salvation Army church in Lava Street.
Those squatters have been causing massive issues for neighbours, police and a nearby sporting academy due to their ongoing anti-social behaviour.
The men have been consuming alcohol outside the Coles supermarket in Lava Street and being abusive and offensive to shoppers.
Police have been frustrated as their move-on powers have been ineffective.
Officers have resorted to issuing infringement notices for offensive behaviour in an attempt to curb the ongoing problems.
The situation has not been helped by the old Salvation Army property's new owner, who is working out of town and has been unable to assist police to enforce trespass laws.
The owner plans to demolish the Salvation Army building in coming months and a demolition permit was approved by the Warrnambool City Council during November last year.
The situation came to a head this week after The Standard ran stories about ongoing issues facing police, neighbours, sports participants and shoppers in Lava Street.
It's hoped that if - as expected - the high-needs men are released on bail in court that they will be excluded from being in the Lava Street area as part of their bail conditions.
Police not authorised to comment publicly say the Lava Street dwelling is being used as a drug den.
There's used needles throughout the dwelling and clear evidence those living there have been defecating in the dwelling despite there being a working toilet.
Andrew Thomson
Long-time senior journalist
Long-time senior journalist
Jessica Greenan
Journalist at The Warrnambool Standard covering both Moyne Shire and Corangamite Shire Council. Sometimes court. Special interest in all things environment.
Journalist at The Warrnambool Standard covering both Moyne Shire and Corangamite Shire Council. Sometimes court. Special interest in all things environment.
