Host of charges for Albany man accused of smashing window and stealing from local RSL branch in crime spree

The Returned and Services League Albany sub-branch has been left reeling from the “mindless” damage and theft caused during an early hours break-in on Saturday morning. An offender allegedly gained entry into the Albany RSL premises where he stole more than $5000 of property, that was part of a wider crime spree in the city’s CBD. Police have since charged a 26-year-old man in relation to the burglary and other incidents on September 21. It will be alleged the man was given a move-on notice after he was reported to be yelling and punching shop windows near the Eve Late Night Bar at about 12.40am. The man was arrested by police and released on a summons. About 20 minutes later he is alleged to have kicked a person three times in the face, causing a blood nose and swelling. He was arrested by police at 2.25am and was allegedly found with items totalling $6000, including a fire extinguisher, laptop bags containing laptops and chargers, cash, a mobile phone, hard drives, and a hat. He is alleged to have taken the items from the RSL Albany sub-branch on Stirling Terrace. The man allegedly smashed a front window with a brick before entering the building and causing damage to internal doors, memorabilia, windows, furniture, and the bar, and spraying the fire extinguisher throughout the building. Albany police operations manager Sgt Cameron Clifford said it was “sad that a community group with a long history like the RSL has been targeted in this fashion”. Sgt Clifford said the offender has been charged with stealing, criminal damage, failing to obey an order, burglary, assault occasioning bodily harm, and disorderly behaviour, and was denied bail in his video link appearance in Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday. RSL Albany sub-branch secretary Margaret Boyd said the building is covered in sticky residue from the fire extinguisher, and that the damage also affected other community groups that use the space. “The damage was just mindless — wrecking things because you could, spraying the fire extinguisher which has . . . covered everything in a sticky powder,” she said. “We were there for eight hours cleaning up on Saturday morning, and I’ve been in there (Monday) and everything is still sticky.” Ms Boyd said the alleged damage to the branch and the alleged theft was “outrageous” and “disappointing”. “It’s the utter lack of respect for what the RSL stands for,” she said. “It’s just not acceptable on any level.” Albany RSL public relations officer Nicole Edmonds said there was no concern of a leak of personal information as a result from the break-in. The man will next appear in Albany Magistrates Court via video link from Albany Regional Prison on Thursday.