By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A MAN who was bitten by police dogs in a Cranbourne backyard at the end of a 55-minute police pursuit through Melbourne’s south-east has pleaded guilty to an early September burglary spree in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.
Bradley Haverkamp, of Keysborough, had been accused of attempting to ram a marked police vehicle signalling for him to pull over on Princes Highway, Dandenong, just after midnight on 7 September.
The court heard on 15 November that the police officer had to accelerate their vehicle to avoid Haverkamp’s stolen white Volvo.
Haverkamp pulled a U-turn and was pursued at a “fast rate of speed” by police Air Wing through Dandenong, Rowville, Lyndhurst and Cranbourne.
Police successfully used stop-sticks to bring the fleeing vehicle to a halt in Cranbourne.
Haverkamp and a co-accused male passenger jumped fences and tried to hide in backyards as they were pursued by the police Canine Squad and Air Wing.
They were found in a Sladen Street backyard.
Haverkamp was taken to Dandenong Hospital with dog-bite wounds before he was interviewed by police, the court was told.
The Volvo had been stolen by an unknown offender from a South Yarra driveway about 11am on 25 July, the court heard.
The victim’s dog, which had been on the front passenger seat at the time, was released from the vehicle at Punt Road during the thief’s escape.
The Volvo was later used during break-ins at a Heyfield refrigeration premises, a Traralgon Chinese restaurant and a Footscray car showroom in the week before the pursuit.
Haverkamp pleaded guilty to the burglaries and stealing six computer tablets, a Patrol ute laden with tools, $2280 welders, $3000 in Suzuki engine parts, a $5000 car diagnostic unit, a $3000 laptop and a mobile phone.
The accused also faced a charge of driving while suspended in February.
Haverkamp was remanded for sentencing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 6 December.
