A Haddon man accused of stealing $285,000 cash from the region's ATMs over a four-month crime spree has been denied bail for a second time.
Robert Stanley Fitzpatrick, 38, is one of three men who allegedly targeted eight ATMs across Western Victoria from November to March, causing almost $40,000 damage.
Banks, community buildings and businesses in Beaufort, Creswick, Skipton, Dunkeld, Lake Bolac, Queenscliff, Ballan and Clunes were allegedly attacked.
Police allege Fitzpatrick, Grant James Nalder, 34, and Martin Locandro, 41, used a stolen front end loader, angle grinders, bolt cutters, sledgehammers and a hydraulic spreader to steal the cash.
Police informant Detective Senior Constable Andrew Pybus told the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday police used electronic surveillance and mobile phone records to link the three men to the burglaries.
He said electronic surveillance on Locandro's vehicle and mobile phone showed the group returned to Fitzpatrick's Haddon home after the burglaries.
Detective Senior Constable Pybus said police believed three people were involved in the crime spree despite there being no forensic evidence tested yet of Fitzpatrick's involvement.
"We believe two people have been committing these offences while one has been acting as a look out. Locandro is a look out, while Nalder and Fitzpatrick are on the tools doing the job," Detective Senior Constable Pybus said.
The prosecution opposed Fitzpatrick's application for bail, arguing he was too much of a risk to the community and feared he had access to the outstanding money.
They said he was an unacceptable risk of failing to answer bail, fleeing and reoffending, which would endanger the community.
"There is a large amount of money outstanding. If he was granted bail he would be the only co-accused with access to that money," the police informant said.
"It's a lot of money and that makes him a flight risk."
The court was told Fitzpatrick was on a community corrections order at the time of the alleged offending, which meant he had to show compelling reasons why he should be bailed.
Defence barrister Jacob Kantor said the prosecution case was purely circumstantial with no direct evidence linking his client to the burglaries and attempted burglary.
He said Fitzpatrick had cystic fibrosis, would offer a $100,000 surety and abide by strict bail conditions if released into the community.
But magistrate Ron Saines described the alleged offending as a highly planned criminal heist over four months.
He said he was not satisfied any bail conditions would be effective in reducing the risks of Fitzpatrick being in the community.
His bail application was refused and he was remanded in custody until August 20 for a contested committal hearing. Co-accused Nalder and Locandro also remain in custody.
Fitzpatrick faces numerous charges, including seven counts of burglary.
