Pizza bandit’s plea to drug court

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A DANDENONG man accused of 84 offences including a spate of thefts from more than 20 pizza shops throughout south-east Melbourne this year has applied for entry into Dandenong Drugs Court.
Adem Tezeli, 25, had been booked for a screening for the drug court’s two-year treatment order program, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard on 15 November.
He would then have to pass an assessment prior to being admitted, Magistrate Pauline Spencer said.
Tezeli, who appeared via video link from Port Phillip Prison, was accused of stealing more than $36,000 in cash, tills, computers, phones, tablets, security equipment, petrol and other goods from businesses from February to September this year.
Raids on pizza stores included five in Pakenham, two in Mt Waverley, as well as in Springvale, Kooweerup, Beaconsfield, Carrum Downs, Mordialloc, Brighton, Chelsea Heights, Mornington, Boronia, Aspendale Gardens, Bentleigh, Hastings, Somerville, Frankston, Oakleigh and Baxter.
Tezeli was also charged with stealing from Mornington Golf Club and from kebab shops in Hallam and Cranbourne, a taco restaurant in Beaconsfield and a cafe in Mt Eliza.
Other targets were a Lynbrook bargain warehouse, a Hindi restaurant at Carrum Downs and a printing office in Carrum Downs.
Tezeli also allegedly committed four petrol drive-offs, drove with false plates, failed to stop for police, drove while suspended, received stolen goods, and tried to pawn off a stolen mobile phone.
Tezeli was accused of five counts of breaching a night curfew on bail as well as other contraventions of bail since September.
At the time of bail he had been charged with 65 of his offences.
During the bail period, Tezeli allegedly performed two of his petrol drive-offs and drove while suspended.
He was also charged with breaching a community corrections order.
Tezeli was remanded to next appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 24 November.