An Indian national who carried out a spate of “well-organised” heists across Melbourne to fund his heroin addiction will most likely be deported after the completion of his sentence.
Herdeep Singh was part of a crime syndicate that stole baby formula and vitamin tablets worth a combined $177,000 from storage facilities in Preston, Bundoora and Mount Waverley, between June 29 and August 30, last year.
The 32-year-old who came to Australia on a student visa was recruited as a “lookout” for the syndicate that would reward him with small amounts of money and some drugs in return for his involvement, according to court records.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary, three of theft and two of possessing a drug of dependence during a previous hearing in April. He also admitted to possessing heroin and ice.
During one such burglary in the southeastern suburb of Mount Waverly in August 2018, formula tins and vitamins worth $90,000 were loaded onto a truck, the County Court heard on Thursday.
A day later, Mr Singh was arrested along with two other accused, after the truck was spotted outside a house in St Albans.
During a previous hearing, detectives told the court that the group used trucks and vans to transfer the goods stolen from the storage facilities to ship them to China and other Asian countries, where the baby formula is in high demand.
They used power tools to enter the warehouses and would disable security alarms and CCTV cameras to buy time during the heists, the court heard.
Another accused, Gurwinder Gill also appeared in the court earlier this week for his involvement in the said syndicate. The 37-year-old admitted to his role in eight burglaries during which goods worth $541,000 were stolen. He will be sentenced at a later date.
Judge Michael Cahill said Singh was sent to Australia to study by his parents to “remove him from his influences” as he had developed an opium habit while studying in India.
Mr Singh who studied in Melbourne for two years started using heroin after he was introduced to the drug by a fellow cabbie in 2011. He has since battled with drug issues, according to court records.
He was sentenced to 21 months in jail and will have to serve at least 15 months before he is eligible for parole and is highly likely to be deported after the completion of the sentence.
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